Latvian Parliament Members Vote to Withdraw From Treaty on Protecting Women from Violence
Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week
The Baltic nation's lawmakers have voted to withdraw from an global treaty created to protect women from abuse, including family violence, following extensive and heated discussions in the legislature.
Several thousand of protesters assembled in the capital this week to oppose the decision. The ultimate authority now rests with Head of State the nation's president, who must decide whether to approve or veto the legislation.
Referred to as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only took effect in Latvia last year, requiring authorities to establish laws and assistance programs to eliminate all types of abuse.
Latvia has become the first European Union member to begin the procedure of exiting from the treaty. The transcontinental nation pulled out in 2021, a move that human rights organizations described as a major regression for gender equality.
Political Controversy and Resistance
The international agreement was ratified by the EU in last year, yet conservative groups have contended that its emphasis on gender equality weakens family values and advances what they term "gender ideology".
Following a lengthy debate in the Latvian parliament, MPs voted by a margin of 56-32 to exit from the convention, a move proposed by opposition parties but backed by representatives from one of the three governing partners.
The result 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 stated to the assembly.
Ideological Divisions and Reactions
One of the primary political groups supporting the exit is a nationalist party, whose leader has called on citizens to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with multiple sexes".
Latvia's ombudswoman Karina Palkova urged the agreement not to be politicized, while the organization Equality Now stated it was "not a threat to national principles, it was an instrument to achieve them".
The Thursday's decision has sparked broad outcry both inside the country and abroad.
22,000 individuals have signed a Latvian petition demanding the convention to be maintained. The women's rights organization the rights center has announced a demonstration for next Thursday, accusing MPs of ignoring the will of the nation's citizens.
Global Worries and Potential Future Actions
The leader of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly commented that the Baltic state had made a hasty choice driven by misinformation. He described it as an "unprecedented and deeply concerning regression for female equality and human rights in Europe".
He added that since the transcontinental nation left the convention four years ago, cases of femicide and abuse targeting females had increased significantly.
Because the decision did not secure a two-thirds majority, the president could possibly return the bill for further consideration if he holds concerns.
President the national leader stated on digital platforms that he would evaluate the vote according to constitutional requirements, "considering state and legal considerations, rather than ideological or political perspectives".
Recently, another component of the governing alliance, the reformist party, indicated it would not exclude appealing to the supreme judicial body.
"This decision represents a concerning development for gender equality not only in Latvia but across Europe," commented a human rights activist.
- Domestic abuse rates have been increasing in several EU countries
- The Istanbul Convention mandates specific legal protections for survivors of domestic abuse
- Latvia's decision could affect similar discussions in additional EU countries