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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

The Baltic nation's lawmakers have voted to withdraw from an global treaty created to protect women from abuse, covering family violence, following prolonged and intense debates in the parliament.

Several thousand of demonstrators gathered in the capital this week to voice disagreement with the decision. The final decision now rests with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or veto the proposed law.

Referred to as the Istanbul Convention, the international accord only took effect in Latvia last twelve months ago, mandating authorities to establish legal frameworks and assistance programs to eliminate all forms of violence.

Latvia has become the first European Union member to initiate the process of exiting from the treaty. Turkey withdrew in two years ago, a decision that human rights organizations characterized as a significant setback for women's rights.

Ideological Debate and Opposition

The treaty was approved by the European Union in 2023, yet traditionalist factions have contended that its focus on equal rights undermines traditional families and promotes what they term "gender ideology".

Following a lengthy debate in the Saeima, lawmakers decided by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the treaty, a move proposed by opposition parties but supported by politicians from one of the three coalition parties.

The result represents a setback for moderate conservative Prime Minister Evika Silina, who stood with protesters outside the legislature earlier this seven-day period. "We refuse to give up, we will persist in our struggle so that violence will not prevail," she declared to the crowd.

Political Divisions and Responses

One of the primary parties supporting the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose leader has urged the public to choose between what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with multiple sexes".

The nation's ombudswoman the rights official urged the treaty not to be politicized, while the group the rights organization asserted it was "not a danger to national principles, it was an instrument to realize them".

The Thursday's vote has provoked broad protest both inside Latvia and abroad.

22,000 individuals have signed a Latvian appeal demanding the convention to be maintained. The gender equality group Centrs Marta has announced a protest for the coming week, charging lawmakers of ignoring the will of the Latvian people.

International Worries and Potential Future Actions

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

He added that since the transcontinental nation abandoned the convention four years ago, instances of gender-based killings and violence against women had risen sharply.

Because the vote did not secure a supermajority support, the head of state could possibly return the legislation for additional review if he holds concerns.

President Rinkevics stated on social media that he would evaluate the decision according to constitutional requirements, "taking into account governmental and judicial considerations, instead of belief-based perspectives".

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

"This decision represents a worrisome development for gender equality not only in our nation but throughout Europe," commented a rights activist.

• Domestic abuse rates have been increasing in several European countries
• The European treaty mandates specific legal protections for survivors of domestic abuse
• The nation's vote could affect similar debates in additional member states