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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's parliament members have decided to withdraw from an international accord created to safeguard females from violence, including family violence, following prolonged and intense discussions in the legislature.

Thousands of protesters assembled in Riga this past week to voice disagreement with the vote. The final decision now rests with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or reject the proposed law.

Known as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only took effect in Latvia last twelve months ago, requiring authorities to develop laws and support services to end all forms of violence.

The Baltic nation has become the first EU country to initiate the procedure of exiting from the treaty. Turkey withdrew in 2021, a move that rights groups characterized as a major regression for women's rights.

Political Debate and Resistance

The treaty was approved by the EU in 2023, yet conservative groups have contended that its emphasis on gender equality weakens family values and advances what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a thirteen-hour discussion in the Latvian parliament, MPs voted by a margin of 56-32 to exit from the treaty, a action sponsored by opposition parties but backed by representatives from one of the three governing partners.

The result represents a setback for centre-right government leader Evika Silina, who joined protesters outside the legislature earlier this seven-day period. "We will not surrender, we will persist in our struggle so that abuse will not prevail," she stated to the assembly.

Political Divisions and Responses

One of the main parties advocating for the exit is Latvia First, whose head has urged citizens to choose between what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with various gender identities".

The nation's ombudswoman the rights official urged the treaty not to be made political, while the group the rights organization asserted it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it served as a tool to achieve them".

The Thursday's decision has sparked broad protest both within the country and internationally.

22,000 people have signed a national petition calling for the treaty to be maintained. The women's rights organization the rights center has announced a protest for the coming week, accusing lawmakers of disregarding the will of the Latvian people.

Global Worries and Potential Next Steps

The head of the European organization's legislative body stated that the Baltic state had made a hasty choice fueled by false information. He characterized it as an "never-before-seen and extremely worrying step backward for female equality and human rights in the continent".

He added that since Turkey abandoned the treaty four years ago, instances of femicide and abuse targeting females had risen sharply.

Because the vote did not achieve a two-thirds majority, the head of state could possibly send back the bill for additional consideration if he holds objections.

Head of State Rinkevics stated on digital platforms that he would assess the vote according to constitutional requirements, "taking into account state and legal considerations, instead of ideological or political perspectives".

Last week, another member of the ruling coalition, the Progressives, indicated it would not exclude petitioning to the Constitutional Court.

"This vote represents a worrisome development for women's rights not only in Latvia but throughout the continent," commented a human rights advocate.

• Family violence statistics have been increasing in several EU countries
• The Istanbul Convention requires specific legal protections for victims of gender-based violence
• The nation's decision could influence similar discussions in other EU countries