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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's lawmakers have decided to pull out from an global treaty created to protect women from violence, including family violence, following prolonged and intense debates in the parliament.

Several thousand of demonstrators assembled in the capital this past week to oppose the vote. The final decision now rests with Head of State the nation's president, who must determine whether to endorse or veto the proposed law.

Known as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only became active in the Baltic state last twelve months ago, mandating governments to establish laws and support services to end all forms of abuse.

Latvia has become the first European Union member to begin the process of exiting from the treaty. Turkey pulled out in two years ago, a decision that rights groups described as a significant setback for gender equality.

Ideological Controversy and Resistance

The international agreement was ratified by the European Union in last year, yet traditionalist groups have argued that its emphasis on equal rights weakens family values and advances what they term "gender ideology".

Following a lengthy discussion in the Latvian parliament, lawmakers voted 56 to 32 to withdraw from the treaty, a action sponsored by political opponents but backed by representatives from one of the three coalition parties.

The result represents a defeat for centre-right government leader Evika Silina, who stood with demonstrators outside the legislature earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that violence does not triumph," she stated to the assembly.

Ideological Divisions and Reactions

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

The nation's human rights commissioner Karina Palkova appealed for the agreement not to be made political, while the organization the rights organization stated it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it was an instrument to realize them".

The Thursday's vote has sparked widespread protest both within the country and abroad.

22,000 individuals have endorsed a Latvian appeal calling for the treaty to be maintained. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has called a protest for next Thursday, accusing lawmakers of disregarding the will of the nation's citizens.

International Worries and Possible Next Steps

The leader of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly commented that the Baltic state had made a hasty choice fueled by false information. He described it as an "unprecedented and deeply concerning step backward for women's rights and human rights in Europe".

He noted that since Turkey abandoned the convention in 2021, instances of gender-based killings and abuse targeting females had increased significantly.

Because the decision did not secure a two-thirds majority, the president could potentially return the bill for additional consideration if he has concerns.

President Rinkevics announced on social media that he would assess the vote according to legal principles, "considering state and legal factors, instead of belief-based perspectives".

Recently, another member of the governing alliance, the Progressives, indicated it would not exclude appealing to the supreme judicial body.

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

• Domestic abuse statistics have been increasing in several EU nations
• The Istanbul Convention requires specific safeguards for survivors of gender-based violence
• The nation's vote could affect similar discussions in additional EU countries