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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 females from violence, covering domestic abuse, following extensive and heated debates in the parliament.

Several thousand of protesters gathered in Riga this week to oppose the vote. The final decision now rests with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to endorse or reject the legislation.

Known as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only took effect in Latvia last year, mandating authorities to develop laws and assistance programs to eliminate all types of abuse.

The Baltic nation has become the initial EU country to initiate the process of exiting from the convention. Turkey withdrew in two years ago, a move that rights groups described as a major regression for gender equality.

Ideological Debate and Opposition

The international agreement was approved by the EU in last year, yet conservative groups have contended that its emphasis on gender equality undermines traditional families and promotes what they term "gender ideology".

Following a thirteen-hour debate in the Saeima, lawmakers decided by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the convention, a move sponsored by opposition parties but backed by representatives from one of the three coalition parties.

The result represents a defeat for moderate conservative government leader Evika Silina, who stood with protesters outside the legislature earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that violence does not triumph," she declared to the crowd.

Political Disagreements and Responses

One of the main political groups supporting the exit is a nationalist party, whose leader has called on the public to select from what he terms a "natural family" and "gender ideology with various gender identities".

The nation's human rights commissioner the rights official appealed for the agreement not to be politicized, while the group the rights organization asserted it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it was an instrument to realize them".

The Thursday's vote has provoked widespread outcry both within Latvia and internationally.

Twenty-two thousand individuals have endorsed a national petition demanding the convention to be preserved. The women's rights organization the rights center has announced a demonstration for next Thursday, accusing lawmakers of disregarding the wishes of the nation's citizens.

International Worries and Possible Future Actions

The head of the European organization's legislative body commented that the Baltic state had made a hasty choice fueled by false information. He characterized it as an "never-before-seen and deeply concerning step backward for women's rights and human rights in Europe".

He noted that since Turkey abandoned the treaty in 2021, cases of femicide and abuse targeting females had risen sharply.

Because the vote did not secure a two-thirds majority, the head of state could possibly return the legislation for additional review if he has concerns.

Head of State the national leader stated on social media that he would evaluate the decision according to legal requirements, "considering state and legal considerations, instead of belief-based viewpoints".

Recently, another member of the governing alliance, the reformist party, indicated it would not rule out petitioning to the Constitutional Court.

"This vote represents a concerning development for women's rights not only in Latvia but across Europe," commented a human rights advocate.

• Family violence statistics have been rising in multiple European countries
• The Istanbul Convention mandates specific legal protections for victims of domestic abuse
• The nation's vote could affect similar discussions in additional EU countries