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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's lawmakers have voted to withdraw from an international accord created to protect females from violence, including family violence, following prolonged and intense debates in the parliament.

Several thousand of demonstrators assembled in the capital this past week to voice disagreement with the vote. The final authority now lies with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must decide whether to approve or veto the proposed law.

Referred to as the European treaty, the international accord only took effect in the Baltic state last twelve months ago, requiring governments to develop laws and support services to eliminate all forms of abuse.

Latvia has become the first EU country to begin the process of withdrawing from the convention. The transcontinental nation withdrew in 2021, a decision that rights groups characterized as a major regression for women's rights.

Ideological Controversy and Opposition

The international agreement was ratified by the EU in 2023, yet conservative factions have argued that its emphasis on gender equality undermines traditional families and promotes what they term "gender ideology".

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

The outcome represents a defeat for centre-right government leader the nation's PM, who stood with protesters outside the legislature earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will persist in our struggle so that violence does not triumph," she stated to the crowd.

Political Divisions and Reactions

One of the main political groups advocating for the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose leader has called on citizens to choose between what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with various gender identities".

The nation's human rights commissioner Karina Palkova urged the treaty not to be politicized, while the organization Equality Now asserted it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it was an instrument to realize them".

The Thursday's decision has provoked widespread protest both inside the country and internationally.

Twenty-two thousand individuals have endorsed a Latvian petition demanding the treaty to be maintained. The women's rights organization the rights center has called a demonstration for the coming week, accusing MPs of disregarding the will of the nation's citizens.

International Worries and Possible Next Steps

The leader of the European organization's legislative body commented that Latvia had made a rash decision driven by false information. He described it as an "never-before-seen and extremely worrying step backward for women's rights and human rights in the continent".

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

Because the decision did not achieve a supermajority majority, the head of state could possibly send back the legislation for additional consideration if he has objections.

President Rinkevics announced on digital platforms that he would evaluate the decision according to legal principles, "considering governmental and judicial factors, instead of ideological or political viewpoints".

Recently, another component of the ruling coalition, the Progressives, indicated it would not rule out petitioning to the supreme judicial body.

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

• Domestic abuse rates have been increasing in multiple EU countries
• The European treaty mandates specific safeguards for victims of domestic abuse
• Latvia's decision could influence similar discussions in other EU countries