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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

The Baltic nation's lawmakers have decided to withdraw from an international accord created to safeguard women from violence, including family violence, following extensive and intense discussions in the parliament.

Thousands of protesters assembled in Riga this past week to oppose the decision. The final decision now rests with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to endorse or reject the proposed law.

Referred to as the Istanbul Convention, the international accord only took effect in Latvia last twelve months ago, mandating governments to develop legal frameworks and support services to end all forms of violence.

Latvia has become the initial EU country to begin the process of exiting from the convention. The transcontinental nation pulled out in two years ago, a move that human rights organizations characterized as a significant setback for women's rights.

Political Debate and Resistance

The treaty was ratified by the EU in 2023, yet traditionalist groups have contended that its focus on gender equality undermines family values and promotes what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a lengthy debate in the Latvian parliament, lawmakers voted 56 to 32 to exit from the treaty, a action proposed by political opponents but supported by politicians from one of the three governing partners.

The outcome represents a setback for centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina, who joined 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 stated to the assembly.

Political Divisions and Reactions

One of the main political groups advocating for the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose leader has called on the public to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with various gender identities".

Latvia's ombudswoman the rights official appealed for the treaty not to be made political, while the group the rights organization stated it was "not a threat to Latvian values, it served as a tool to achieve them".

The Thursday's decision has provoked broad protest both within Latvia and abroad.

Twenty-two thousand individuals have signed a Latvian appeal demanding the convention to be preserved. The gender equality group Centrs Marta has called a protest for the coming week, accusing MPs of ignoring the will of the nation's citizens.

International Worries and Possible Future Actions

The leader of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly 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 regression for female equality and human rights in the continent".

He added that since Turkey abandoned the treaty four years ago, instances of femicide and violence against women had risen sharply.

Because the decision did not achieve a supermajority majority, the head of state could potentially return the bill for additional review if he holds objections.

Head of State the national leader stated on digital platforms that he would assess the vote according to constitutional principles, "considering governmental and judicial considerations, instead of ideological or political viewpoints".

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

"This decision represents a concerning situation for women's rights not only in Latvia but across Europe," commented a rights advocate.

• Family violence rates have been increasing in multiple European countries
• The European treaty mandates specific legal protections for victims of gender-based violence
• The nation's decision could influence similar discussions in other EU countries