Latvia: Government postpones decision on Istanbul Convention

The Latvian government has postponed reviewing Welfare Minister Evika Silina’s (New Unity) proposed draft bill on the ratification of the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on violence against women and domestic violence, LETA reports. One of the parties in the coalition government, United List, wanted to introduce additions to the draft bill. United List’s parliamentary group leader, Edgars Tavars, said that the draft needed to be improved to “put to rest concerns” and avoid various “interpretations” about gender. Silina expressed regret that parties were falling on stereotypes and “reading the convention the way it is not,” LSM reports. She pointed out that if the government fails to agree on ratification, MPs are free to decide on their own.