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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's parliament members have voted to withdraw from an global treaty created to protect women from violence, including family violence, following extensive and heated debates in the legislature.

Thousands of demonstrators assembled in Riga this week to voice disagreement with the decision. The final decision now rests with President the nation's president, who must determine whether to approve or reject the legislation.

Referred to as the European treaty, the international accord only became active in the Baltic state last twelve months ago, requiring authorities to develop laws and assistance programs to eliminate all types of abuse.

Latvia has become the initial EU country to begin the process of withdrawing from the treaty. Turkey withdrew in 2021, a decision that human rights organizations characterized as a significant setback for women's rights.

Ideological Controversy and Resistance

The international agreement was ratified by the European Union in last year, yet conservative groups have argued that its emphasis on gender equality undermines traditional families and promotes what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a lengthy discussion in the Latvian parliament, MPs 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 result represents a setback for centre-right government leader Evika Silina, who joined protesters outside parliament earlier this seven-day period. "We will not surrender, we will persist in our struggle so that violence will not prevail," she declared to the crowd.

Political Disagreements and Responses

One of the main parties advocating for the exit is Latvia First, whose leader has called on citizens to choose between what he terms a "natural family" and "gender ideology with multiple sexes".

The nation's human rights commissioner Karina Palkova urged the agreement not to be politicized, while the group Equality Now asserted it was "not a danger to national principles, it served as a tool to realize them".

The recent decision has sparked broad protest both inside Latvia and abroad.

Twenty-two thousand people have endorsed a Latvian appeal demanding the treaty to be maintained. The gender equality group Centrs Marta has announced a protest for next Thursday, accusing MPs of ignoring the wishes of the nation's citizens.

International Worries and Potential Next Steps

The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly commented that the Baltic state had made a rash decision driven by misinformation. He described it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying regression for female equality and fundamental freedoms in the continent".

He added that since the transcontinental nation left the treaty four years ago, instances of gender-based killings and violence against women had increased significantly.

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

Head of State the national leader announced on digital platforms that he would evaluate the vote according to constitutional principles, "considering state and legal considerations, rather than ideological or political perspectives".

Last week, another member of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, indicated it would not exclude petitioning to the Constitutional Court.

"This decision represents a concerning development for gender equality not only in our nation but throughout the continent," stated a human rights advocate.

• Domestic abuse rates have been increasing in multiple European countries
• The European treaty requires specific safeguards for victims of domestic abuse
• Latvia's vote could influence comparable debates in other member states