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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

The Baltic nation's lawmakers have decided to withdraw from an global treaty created to safeguard women from abuse, covering domestic abuse, following prolonged and intense debates in the parliament.

Thousands of protesters gathered in the capital this past week to voice disagreement with the decision. The final authority now lies with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or reject the proposed law.

Known as the European treaty, the international accord only became active in Latvia last twelve months ago, requiring governments to develop legal frameworks and support services to eliminate all forms of violence.

The Baltic nation has become the first European Union member to begin the process of exiting from the treaty. Turkey withdrew in 2021, a decision that human rights organizations described as a major regression for women's rights.

Political Controversy and Resistance

The treaty was ratified by the European Union in last year, yet traditionalist groups have argued that its focus on gender equality undermines traditional families and advances what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a thirteen-hour debate in the Latvian parliament, lawmakers voted 56 to 32 to withdraw from the convention, a move proposed by opposition parties but supported by politicians from one of the three governing partners.

The result represents a defeat for centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina, who stood with demonstrators outside parliament earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will persist in our struggle so that violence does not triumph," she declared to the assembly.

Ideological Divisions and Responses

One of the main parties supporting the exit is a nationalist party, whose leader has called on citizens to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with multiple sexes".

The nation's ombudswoman Karina Palkova appealed for the agreement not to be made political, while the group Equality Now stated it was "not a threat to national principles, it served as a tool to realize them".

The recent decision has sparked widespread protest both inside the country and internationally.

22,000 individuals have endorsed a Latvian petition calling for the treaty to be preserved. The women's rights organization the rights center has called a demonstration for the coming week, accusing MPs of ignoring the wishes of the Latvian people.

Global Worries and Potential Next Steps

The leader of the Council of Europe's legislative body stated that Latvia had made a rash decision driven by false information. He described it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying step backward for female equality and human rights in the continent".

He added that since the transcontinental nation abandoned the convention in 2021, instances of femicide and abuse targeting females had increased significantly.

Because the vote did not secure a two-thirds majority, the head of state could possibly send back the legislation for further consideration if he holds concerns.

President Rinkevics stated on social media that he would evaluate the decision according to constitutional principles, "considering governmental and judicial considerations, rather than ideological or political perspectives".

Recently, another component of the governing alliance, the reformist party, indicated it would not exclude petitioning to the Constitutional Court.

"This vote represents a worrisome situation for women's rights not only in our nation but across the continent," commented a human rights activist.

• Domestic abuse rates have been rising in multiple EU countries
• The Istanbul Convention requires specific safeguards for victims of domestic abuse
• The nation's decision could affect comparable discussions in other EU countries