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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

The Baltic nation's parliament members have decided to withdraw from an international accord designed to safeguard women from violence, including family violence, following prolonged and heated debates in the parliament.

Thousands of protesters gathered in the capital this week to voice disagreement with the decision. The final decision now rests with President the nation's president, who must determine whether to endorse or veto the proposed law.

Known as the European treaty, the international accord only took effect in Latvia last twelve months ago, requiring authorities to develop laws and support services to eliminate all forms of violence.

The Baltic nation has become the initial EU country to begin the process of withdrawing from the treaty. The transcontinental nation withdrew in two years ago, a move that rights groups characterized as a significant regression for gender equality.

Political Controversy and Resistance

The international agreement was approved by the European Union in 2023, yet conservative factions have contended that its emphasis on gender equality weakens family values and promotes what they term "gender ideology".

Following a lengthy debate in the Latvian parliament, lawmakers decided 56 to 32 to withdraw from the convention, a action proposed by opposition parties but supported by representatives from one of the three governing partners.

The result represents a setback for moderate conservative government leader Evika Silina, who joined protesters outside parliament earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will persist in our struggle so that violence does not triumph," she declared to the crowd.

Political Disagreements and Reactions

One of the primary parties advocating for the withdrawal is a nationalist party, whose leader has called on citizens to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with various gender identities".

Latvia's human rights commissioner Karina Palkova urged the treaty not to be made political, while the group Equality Now asserted it was "not a threat to Latvian values, it was an instrument to realize them".

The recent vote has sparked broad outcry both inside Latvia and abroad.

22,000 people have endorsed a national appeal demanding the treaty to be maintained. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has announced a protest for next Thursday, accusing MPs of disregarding the wishes of the Latvian people.

International Worries and Possible Next Steps

The head of the Council of Europe's legislative body stated that the Baltic state had made a hasty decision fueled by false information. He described it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying step backward for female equality and human rights in Europe".

He added that since Turkey abandoned the treaty four years ago, cases of gender-based killings and violence against women had risen sharply.

Because the vote did not secure a two-thirds support, the president could possibly send back the legislation for further consideration if he has concerns.

Head of State the national leader stated on social media that he would evaluate the vote according to constitutional requirements, "taking into account state and legal factors, instead of belief-based perspectives".

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

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

• Family violence rates have been increasing in several EU countries
• The European treaty mandates specific safeguards for survivors of gender-based violence
• The nation's decision could influence similar discussions in additional EU countries