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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 heated discussions in the legislature.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Riga this week to oppose the decision. The ultimate authority now lies with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or reject the proposed law.

Referred to as the Istanbul Convention, the 2011 agreement only became active in Latvia last year, mandating authorities to develop legal frameworks and support services to eliminate all forms of violence.

The Baltic nation has become the initial EU country to initiate the procedure of exiting from the convention. Turkey withdrew in 2021, a move that rights groups described as a significant setback for women's rights.

Political Controversy and Resistance

The treaty was approved by the European Union in 2023, 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, lawmakers decided 56 to 32 to exit from the convention, a move sponsored by opposition parties but backed by politicians from one of the three coalition parties.

The result represents a defeat for centre-right Prime Minister the nation's PM, who joined protesters outside the legislature earlier this seven-day period. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that abuse does not triumph," she stated to the crowd.

Ideological Divisions and Responses

One of the main parties supporting the withdrawal is a nationalist party, whose leader has called on citizens to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with various gender identities".

The nation's ombudswoman Karina Palkova urged the agreement not to be politicized, while the group the rights organization stated it was "not a danger to national principles, it was an instrument to achieve them".

The recent vote has provoked widespread protest both within the country and internationally.

22,000 individuals have signed a national petition calling for the convention to be maintained. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has called a demonstration for next Thursday, charging lawmakers of ignoring the wishes of the nation's citizens.

International Concerns and Potential Next Steps

The head of the Council of Europe's legislative body stated that the Baltic state had made a hasty choice driven by misinformation. He described it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying regression for female equality and fundamental freedoms in Europe".

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

Because the decision did not secure a supermajority support, the president could potentially send back the legislation for additional review if he has objections.

President Rinkevics stated on digital platforms that he would evaluate the decision according to legal requirements, "taking into account governmental and judicial factors, rather than ideological or political viewpoints".

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

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

• Family violence statistics have been increasing in several EU countries
• The European treaty mandates particular safeguards for victims of domestic abuse
• Latvia's vote could influence similar debates in other member states