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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's lawmakers have decided to withdraw from an international accord designed to safeguard females from abuse, including family violence, following extensive and intense debates in the parliament.

Several thousand of demonstrators assembled in the capital this week to voice disagreement with the decision. The ultimate authority now rests with Head of State the nation's president, who must determine whether to endorse or reject the proposed law.

Known as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only became active in Latvia last year, mandating authorities to develop laws and assistance programs to eliminate all types of violence.

The Baltic nation has become the first European Union member to initiate the process of exiting from the convention. Turkey pulled out in two years ago, a move that rights groups characterized as a significant regression for gender equality.

Ideological Controversy and Opposition

The treaty was ratified by the EU in 2023, yet conservative groups have argued that its emphasis on gender equality undermines family values and advances what they term "gender ideology".

Following a lengthy discussion in the Latvian parliament, MPs voted 56 to 32 to withdraw from the convention, a action proposed by political opponents but backed by politicians from one of the three governing partners.

The outcome represents a defeat for moderate conservative Prime Minister the nation's PM, who stood with protesters outside the legislature earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will persist in our struggle so that abuse does not triumph," she declared to the crowd.

Ideological Divisions and Responses

One of the main political groups supporting the withdrawal is a nationalist party, whose head has called on the public to select from what he terms a "natural family" and "non-binary concepts with various gender identities".

The nation's ombudswoman Karina Palkova urged the treaty not to be made political, while the group Equality Now stated it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it was an instrument to realize them".

The recent vote has provoked widespread outcry both inside Latvia and abroad.

22,000 people have signed a national petition demanding the convention to be preserved. The gender equality group the rights center has called a protest for the coming week, accusing lawmakers of ignoring the wishes of the Latvian people.

International Worries and Possible Future Actions

The head of the Council of Europe's legislative body stated that the Baltic state had made a rash choice driven by false information. He described it as an "never-before-seen and extremely worrying step backward for women's rights and human rights in the continent".

He added that since Turkey left the treaty in 2021, cases of gender-based killings and violence against women had risen sharply.

Because the vote did not achieve a supermajority majority, the head of state could possibly return the bill for additional consideration if he has concerns.

Head of State Rinkevics announced on social media that he would assess the decision according to legal principles, "considering governmental and judicial considerations, instead of belief-based perspectives".

Last week, another component of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, suggested it would not rule out petitioning to the supreme judicial body.

"This decision represents a worrisome development for women's rights not only in our nation but throughout Europe," commented a human rights advocate.

• Domestic abuse statistics have been rising in multiple EU countries
• The Istanbul Convention requires specific safeguards for survivors of gender-based violence
• The nation's decision could influence similar debates in additional EU countries