Istanbul Convention

Latvia’s parliament has postponed a vote on withdrawing from a landmark European treaty aimed at preventing violence against women, following weeks of political tension and public protests over the move.

Lawmakers agreed on Wednesday to delay the final vote on quitting the Istanbul Convention, the Council of Europe’s 2011 treaty that defines violence against women as a human-rights violation, until after the country’s October 2026 parliamentary election.

The decision followed an appeal by President Edgars Rinkēvičs, who refused to sign the earlier withdrawal measure passed on October 30. Parliament could still approve the exit with another vote, but members …