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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

The Baltic nation's lawmakers have decided to withdraw from an global treaty created to protect females from violence, including family violence, following extensive and intense debates in the parliament.

Thousands of protesters gathered in the capital this past week to oppose the decision. The final authority now rests with Head of State the nation's president, who must determine whether to endorse or reject the legislation.

Known as the Istanbul Convention, the international accord only became active in the Baltic state last twelve months ago, mandating governments to establish laws and assistance programs to end all forms of violence.

Latvia has become the initial EU country to begin the procedure of exiting from the treaty. Turkey withdrew in two years ago, a decision that rights groups described as a significant setback for gender equality.

Ideological Debate and Resistance

The treaty was approved by the EU in 2023, yet conservative groups have argued that its focus on gender equality weakens family values and promotes what they term "gender ideology".

Following a thirteen-hour debate in the Saeima, lawmakers voted 56 to 32 to exit from the treaty, a action proposed by opposition parties but backed by politicians from one of the three governing partners.

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

Ideological Divisions and Reactions

One of the main parties advocating for the exit is Latvia First, whose leader has urged the public to choose between what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with multiple sexes".

The nation's ombudswoman Karina Palkova urged the agreement not to be made political, while the organization Equality Now stated it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it served as a tool to achieve them".

The recent decision has provoked broad outcry both within Latvia and abroad.

22,000 people have endorsed a Latvian petition demanding the convention to be preserved. The gender equality group the rights center has called a protest for the coming week, charging MPs of disregarding the will of the nation's citizens.

International Worries and Potential Next Steps

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

He added that since the transcontinental nation left the convention four years ago, cases of femicide and violence against women had increased significantly.

Because the decision did not secure a two-thirds support, the head of state could possibly return the legislation for additional consideration if he holds objections.

Head of State Rinkevics stated on digital platforms that he would evaluate the decision according to legal requirements, "considering state and legal factors, instead of belief-based viewpoints".

Recently, another member of the ruling coalition, the Progressives, suggested it would not rule out appealing to the supreme judicial body.

"This decision represents a concerning development for gender equality not only in Latvia but across the continent," commented a human rights advocate.

• Family violence rates have been rising in several EU countries
• The European treaty requires particular legal protections for survivors of gender-based violence
• Latvia's decision could affect comparable debates in other member states