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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 women from violence, covering family violence, following prolonged and heated discussions in the parliament.

Thousands of protesters gathered in the capital this week to voice disagreement with the vote. The ultimate decision now lies with Head of State the nation's president, who must determine whether to endorse or reject the legislation.

Known as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only became active in Latvia last year, mandating governments to develop legal frameworks and support services to end all types of violence.

Latvia has become the first EU country to initiate the process of exiting from the treaty. The transcontinental nation withdrew in 2021, a move that rights groups described as a major setback for women's rights.

Political Controversy and Opposition

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

Following a lengthy debate in the Saeima, lawmakers voted 56 to 32 to withdraw from the convention, a move sponsored by opposition parties but backed by politicians from one of the three coalition parties.

The outcome represents a setback for centre-right government leader Evika Silina, who stood with demonstrators outside the legislature earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will continue fighting so that abuse will not prevail," she stated to the assembly.

Ideological Disagreements and Reactions

One of the primary political groups supporting the exit is a nationalist party, whose head has urged citizens to choose between 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 politicized, 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 sparked widespread protest both within Latvia and internationally.

22,000 individuals have signed a Latvian appeal calling for the convention to be maintained. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has called a demonstration for next Thursday, charging lawmakers of disregarding the will of the Latvian people.

International Worries and Possible Next Steps

The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly stated that Latvia had made a rash choice fueled by misinformation. 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 four years ago, cases of gender-based killings and abuse targeting females had increased significantly.

Because the decision did not secure a two-thirds majority, the head of state could potentially send back the legislation for further consideration if he has objections.

Head of State the national leader announced on social media that he would evaluate the vote according to constitutional requirements, "taking into account state and legal considerations, rather than ideological or political perspectives".

Recently, another member of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, suggested it would not rule out appealing to the Constitutional Court.

"This vote represents a concerning situation for women's rights not only in Latvia but across Europe," stated a rights activist.

• Domestic abuse rates have been rising in several European nations
• The European treaty requires particular safeguards for survivors of gender-based violence
• The nation's decision could affect similar debates in other EU countries