Between progress and pushback: Latvians rally to defend women’s rights
18 November 2025
Latvia is facing growing divisions over a political push to withdraw from the main international treaty to combat violence against women, as outlined in a new policy brief by Pamela Campa (SITE) and Kata Fredheim (SSE Riga). The brief explains how a debate over the word “gender” escalated into mass protests, political fractures, and concerns about Latvia’s international standing. Meanwhile, data show that violence against women in Latvia is a serious concern and societal support for legislation to combat it is high.