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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's parliament members have voted to withdraw from an international accord designed to protect women from abuse, covering family violence, following prolonged and intense discussions in the legislature.

Thousands of protesters assembled in the capital this past week to oppose the decision. The final decision now lies with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must decide whether to approve or veto the proposed law.

Known as the Istanbul Convention, the 2011 agreement only became active in Latvia last twelve months ago, mandating governments to establish legal frameworks and support services to end all types of abuse.

Latvia has become the first European Union member to initiate the process of exiting from the treaty. The transcontinental nation pulled out in two years ago, a move that rights groups characterized as a major setback for gender equality.

Political Debate and Resistance

The treaty was ratified by the European Union in 2023, yet traditionalist factions have argued that its focus on gender equality undermines traditional families and advances what they term "gender ideology".

Following a lengthy debate in the Saeima, MPs decided by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the treaty, a move sponsored by opposition parties but supported by representatives from one of the three governing partners.

The result represents a setback for centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina, who joined protesters outside parliament earlier this seven-day period. "We refuse to give up, we will persist in our struggle so that violence will not prevail," she stated to the crowd.

Political Divisions and Reactions

One of the primary parties supporting the exit is a nationalist party, whose leader has called on the public to select from what he terms a "natural family" and "non-binary concepts with multiple sexes".

The nation's ombudswoman the rights official urged the agreement not to be made political, while the group Equality Now asserted it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it was an instrument to realize them".

The Thursday's decision has provoked broad protest both within the country and abroad.

Twenty-two thousand people have signed a Latvian appeal demanding the treaty to be preserved. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has called a demonstration for the coming week, charging MPs of ignoring the will of the Latvian people.

International Concerns and Potential Future Actions

The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly stated that Latvia had made a rash decision driven by misinformation. He described it as an "never-before-seen and deeply concerning regression for female equality and fundamental freedoms in the continent".

He added that since Turkey left the treaty four years ago, instances of gender-based killings and abuse targeting females had increased significantly.

Because the vote did not achieve a two-thirds support, the president could possibly return the bill for further consideration if he holds concerns.

President Rinkevics announced on social media that he would assess the vote according to constitutional requirements, "considering state and legal considerations, rather than belief-based viewpoints".

Last week, another member of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, indicated it would not rule out petitioning to the supreme judicial body.

"This vote represents a concerning situation for gender equality not only in our nation but across Europe," commented a human rights advocate.

• Domestic abuse rates have been rising in multiple EU countries
• The European treaty requires particular legal protections for victims of domestic abuse
• Latvia's vote could affect comparable debates in additional EU countries