was informed that the municipal police carried out regular visits for the purpose of ensuring the residents’ protection needs. 22. During the visit, civil society interlocutors involved in providing services to victims of domestic violence expressed the view that the competencies of the law-enforcement bodies - especially at the level of municipal police - to properly identify and investigate cases of violence against women continued to be inadequate. Several interlocutors also referred to difficulties experienced by women victims of domestic violence in the context of criminal proceedings, in particular as concerns their lack of access to adequate information about their rights, including those stipulated in the recent regulation on temporary protection. 23. Several NGOs also considered inter-institutional coordination to be weak, and pointed to shortcomings in the documentation of physical violence by medical professionals as well as a lack of specialists to treat cases involving sexual violence. Reportedly, the number of adequately trained women forensic experts and psychologists remained low. The Commissioner encouraged the authorities to address those issues as part of their institutional policies and capacity-building work. As regards the issue of forensic experts, the Commissioner was informed that the Law on Forensic Examination had been amended to foresee forensic examination of victims of sexual violence made by an expert of the same gender (with exceptions of cases when the sexual violence perpetrator was of the same gender as the victim).29 24. During the meetings, the Commissioner’s official interlocutors generally acknowledged the disproportionate impact of violence upon women and the need to step up efforts in this area. The Commissioner notes the on-going work to review the relevant legislation and strengthen the criminal justice system to respond to violence against women. It is essential to ensure that there is the requisite capacity among law enforcement, prosecutorial and judicial authorities to effectively identify, investigate and prosecute all forms of violence against women. Municipal police act as first responders to cases of violence; therefore, the authorities should place particular emphasis on creating sufficient and qualified capacities at this level. Rehabilitation services and specialised shelters for women should be available in all municipalities in sufficient numbers, having regard to the specific local needs. The authorities should intensify efforts in this regard and strengthen cooperation with civil society by seeking frank feedback on the effectiveness of measures taken, and continuously re-evaluating and improving their action to create permanent and effective response mechanisms. 1.3 THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONVENTION ON PREVENTING AND COMBATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 25. In 2015, the Ministry of Welfare prepared a comprehensive report, including a legislative gap analysis, proposing to join the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).30 In January 2016, during the Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council, the Latvian authorities stated that in preparation for accession to the Istanbul Convention, Latvia planned to fully review its legislative framework and ensure full compliance with the Convention,31 which Latvia signed on 18 May 2016. During the Commissioner’s visit, the authorities re-affirmed that the legislation was under review in light of future ratification of the Convention, and that amendments were being prepared to criminalise psychological violence, stalking, and female genital mutilation. 26. The Commissioner welcomes these steps and urges the Latvian authorities to promptly proceed with ratification in order to send a clear message of commitment to women’s rights and systematic work to combat all forms of violence against women. 27. During the visit, civil society interlocutors brought to the Commissioner’s attention their concerns about the quality of public debates that surrounded the process of signing the Istanbul Convention and the often inaccurate assessments presented by the opponents of ratification. According to their 29 Information submitted by the Ministry of Welfare on 31 August 2016. 30 Concept Note on Latvia’s accession to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, Ministry of Welfare, 2015. 31 Latvia, Universal Periodic Review on 26 January 2016. 8