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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 females from abuse, covering family violence, following prolonged and intense debates in the parliament.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Riga this week to oppose the vote. The final decision now rests with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must decide whether to approve or reject the proposed law.

Referred to as the Istanbul Convention, the international accord only took effect in the Baltic state last twelve months ago, requiring governments to develop laws and assistance programs to eliminate all types of abuse.

Latvia has become the first EU country to initiate the process of exiting from the treaty. Turkey withdrew in two years ago, a move that human rights organizations characterized as a major regression for gender equality.

Ideological Debate and Opposition

The treaty was ratified by the EU in last year, yet traditionalist factions have argued that its focus on equal rights weakens family values and promotes what they term "gender ideology".

Following a lengthy debate in the Saeima, lawmakers voted 56 to 32 to exit from the treaty, a move proposed by political opponents but backed by politicians from one of the three governing partners.

The result represents a setback for centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina, who stood with demonstrators outside the legislature 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 Reactions

One of the primary parties supporting the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose leader has called on citizens to choose between what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with various gender identities".

Latvia's ombudswoman the rights official appealed for the treaty not to be made political, while the organization Equality Now asserted it was "not a threat to Latvian values, it was an instrument to achieve them".

The Thursday's decision has sparked broad outcry both inside the country and abroad.

Twenty-two thousand individuals have endorsed a national petition calling for the treaty to be preserved. The gender equality group the rights center has announced a protest for the coming week, accusing MPs of ignoring the wishes of the Latvian people.

International Worries and Potential Next Steps

The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly commented that Latvia had made a rash decision fueled by false information. He characterized it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying step backward for women's rights and human rights in Europe".

He noted that since the transcontinental nation left the treaty in 2021, instances of femicide and violence against women had risen sharply.

Because the decision did not secure a two-thirds support, the president could potentially return the legislation for further review if he holds objections.

President Rinkevics announced on digital platforms that he would assess the vote according to constitutional principles, "taking into account state and legal factors, instead of belief-based viewpoints".

Last week, another member of the governing alliance, the Progressives, suggested it would not rule out petitioning to the Constitutional Court.

"This decision represents a concerning situation for women's rights not only in Latvia but throughout the continent," commented a human rights advocate.

• Family violence rates have been rising in several European countries
• The Istanbul Convention mandates particular safeguards for victims of gender-based violence
• The nation's vote could affect similar discussions in additional member states