🔗 Share this article Latvia's Lawmakers Decide to Exit International Accord on Protecting Women from Violence Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week The decision represents a blow for the nation's conservative-leaning government leader, who spoke to demonstrators outside the parliament Latvia's lawmakers have decided to withdraw from an international accord created to safeguard women from abuse, covering domestic abuse, following extensive and heated debates in the legislature. Thousands of protesters gathered in Riga this week to oppose the decision. The final decision now rests with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must decide whether to endorse or reject the proposed law. Referred to as the Istanbul Convention, the 2011 agreement only became active in Latvia last year, requiring governments to develop laws and assistance programs to end all types of violence. The Baltic nation has become the initial European Union member to begin the procedure of withdrawing from the treaty. The transcontinental nation withdrew in 2021, a move that human rights organizations characterized as a significant regression for women's rights. Political Debate and Opposition The treaty was ratified by the EU in 2023, yet conservative groups have argued that its emphasis on equal rights undermines family values and promotes what they term "gender ideology". Following a lengthy discussion in the Latvian parliament, lawmakers decided 56 to 32 to withdraw from the convention, a action proposed by opposition parties but supported by representatives from one of the three governing partners. The outcome represents a setback for moderate conservative government leader Evika Silina, who stood with protesters outside parliament earlier this seven-day period. "We refuse to give up, we will persist in our struggle so that abuse does not triumph," she declared to the assembly. Political Disagreements and Responses One of the main parties supporting the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose leader has urged the public to choose between what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with multiple sexes". The nation's ombudswoman the rights official urged the treaty not to be politicized, while the organization Equality Now stated it was "not a threat to Latvian values, it served as a tool to achieve them". The recent vote has provoked broad protest both inside Latvia and internationally. 22,000 individuals have endorsed a Latvian petition demanding the treaty to be maintained. The gender equality group Centrs Marta has announced a demonstration for next Thursday, charging MPs of ignoring the wishes of the Latvian people. Global Worries and Potential Future Actions The leader of the European organization's parliamentary assembly stated that Latvia had made a hasty decision fueled by misinformation. He characterized it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying step backward for women's rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe". He noted that since Turkey abandoned the convention in 2021, instances of femicide and abuse targeting females had risen sharply. Because the vote did not secure a supermajority majority, the president could potentially return the bill for additional review if he has objections. Head of State the national leader stated on digital platforms that he would assess the decision according to constitutional principles, "considering governmental and judicial factors, instead of ideological or political viewpoints". Last week, another component of the governing alliance, the reformist party, suggested it would not rule out petitioning to the Constitutional Court. "This vote represents a worrisome situation for gender equality not only in our nation but throughout the continent," stated a human rights activist. Domestic abuse rates have been rising in multiple EU countries The Istanbul Convention requires particular safeguards for survivors of gender-based violence Latvia's decision could influence similar debates in additional member states