30,000 signatures have been collected on the ManaBalss.lv platform calling on President Edgars Rinkēvičs not to sign the law on Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention.
Meanwhile, another initiative has been submitted to the Saeima, calling on the parliament not to denounce the convention. It has been signed by over 28,000 people.
As explained by the author of the appeal to the president, Linda Auziņa, the president can exercise his right under Article 71 of the Constitution not to proclaim the law adopted by the Saeima regarding Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention and to send it back for reconsideration by the Saeima or to a referendum. This will ensure a thorough and democratic examination of this issue, which affects human rights and the reputation of the state.
"The president's decision will strengthen trust in democracy and show that in Latvia, power belongs to the people, not to fear and populism. This will be a signal to Europe and the world that Latvia is a country with a strong core, capable of defending its values," Auziņa stated.
As reported, on Thursday, thanks to the votes of the opposition and the Union of Greens and Farmers (UGF), the Saeima adopted the law on Latvia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the Istanbul Convention.
A number of non-governmental organizations have already sent a letter to the president urging him to return the law on withdrawal from the convention for reconsideration by the parliament. They emphasize that the convention is one of the most important international instruments in the field of human rights, protecting women, children, and other individuals at risk of violence, as it imposes on the state the obligation not only to punish the guilty but also to implement preventive mechanisms, educate society, provide assistance to victims of violence, and enhance the capabilities of law enforcement agencies to prevent violence.
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