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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

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

Thousands of demonstrators assembled in the capital this past week to oppose the vote. The final decision now lies with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must decide whether to endorse or veto the proposed law.

Referred to 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 eliminate all forms of abuse.

The Baltic nation has become the initial EU country to initiate the procedure of withdrawing from the convention. The transcontinental nation withdrew in 2021, a move that human rights organizations characterized as a major setback for gender equality.

Political Debate and Resistance

The treaty was approved by the EU in last year, yet traditionalist groups have argued that its emphasis on equal rights weakens traditional families and promotes what they term "gender ideology".

Following a lengthy debate in the Saeima, lawmakers decided 56 to 32 to withdraw from the convention, 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 stood with protesters outside parliament 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 Disagreements and Responses

One of the main political groups supporting the withdrawal is a nationalist party, whose leader has urged citizens to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with various gender identities".

Latvia's ombudswoman the rights official appealed for the agreement not to be made political, while the group the rights organization stated it was "not a danger to national principles, it was an instrument to achieve them".

The Thursday's decision has sparked widespread outcry both within Latvia and abroad.

22,000 individuals have signed a national petition demanding the convention to be preserved. The women's rights organization the rights center has called a protest for next Thursday, accusing lawmakers of disregarding the wishes of the Latvian people.

Global Concerns and Potential Next Steps

The leader of the Council of Europe's legislative body stated that the Baltic state had made a rash decision fueled by false information. He described it as an "unprecedented and deeply concerning regression for women's rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe".

He noted that since Turkey abandoned the convention in 2021, cases of femicide and abuse targeting females had increased significantly.

Because the vote did not achieve a supermajority majority, the president could potentially return the legislation for additional consideration if he holds concerns.

Head of State Rinkevics stated on social media that he would evaluate the decision according to legal principles, "considering governmental and judicial factors, instead of ideological or political viewpoints".

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

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

• Family violence rates have been rising in multiple EU countries
• The Istanbul Convention requires particular legal protections for victims of gender-based violence
• Latvia's decision could influence similar discussions in additional EU countries