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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's parliament members have decided to withdraw from an international accord created to protect women from violence, covering domestic abuse, following prolonged and intense debates in the parliament.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the capital this week to oppose the decision. The ultimate decision now rests with President the nation's president, who must decide whether to approve or veto the proposed law.

Referred to as the Istanbul Convention, the 2011 agreement only took effect in the Baltic state last twelve months ago, mandating authorities to establish laws and assistance programs to eliminate all types of abuse.

Latvia has become the initial EU country to begin the procedure of exiting from the treaty. Turkey pulled out in two years ago, a decision that human rights organizations described as a major setback for women's rights.

Political Debate and Opposition

The international agreement was approved by the EU in 2023, yet conservative groups have contended that its emphasis on equal rights weakens family values and promotes what they term "gender ideology".

Following a thirteen-hour debate in the Saeima, lawmakers decided 56 to 32 to exit from the treaty, a move sponsored by opposition parties but supported by politicians from one of the three governing partners.

The outcome represents a defeat for centre-right Prime Minister the nation's PM, who stood with demonstrators outside parliament earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that abuse does not triumph," she declared to the assembly.

Political Disagreements and Reactions

One of the primary political groups advocating for the exit is a nationalist party, whose head has called on the public to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with multiple sexes".

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

The Thursday's vote has sparked broad outcry both within the country and internationally.

Twenty-two thousand individuals have endorsed a Latvian petition demanding the treaty to be preserved. The gender equality group Centrs Marta has announced a protest for next Thursday, accusing lawmakers of disregarding the wishes of the Latvian people.

International Concerns and Possible Future Actions

The leader of the Council of Europe's legislative body stated that Latvia had made a hasty decision driven by false information. He described it as an "unprecedented and deeply concerning regression for female equality and human rights in the continent".

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

Because the vote did not secure a supermajority majority, the president could potentially return the bill for further review if he has objections.

President Rinkevics announced on digital platforms that he would assess the vote according to legal requirements, "taking into account state and legal factors, rather than ideological or political perspectives".

Last week, another member of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, indicated it would not rule out appealing to the Constitutional Court.

"This decision represents a concerning development for women's rights not only in Latvia but throughout Europe," commented a human rights activist.

• Domestic abuse rates have been increasing in several European nations
• The Istanbul Convention mandates specific safeguards for victims of gender-based violence
• The nation's decision could affect comparable discussions in additional EU countries