Latvian Parliament Members Vote to Withdraw From International Accord on Protecting Females from Violence
Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week
Latvia's lawmakers have decided to withdraw from an global treaty created to protect females from abuse, including domestic abuse, following prolonged and intense discussions in the parliament.
Several thousand of demonstrators assembled in the capital this week to oppose the decision. The final authority now rests with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or veto the legislation.
Known as the European treaty, the international accord only became active in Latvia last twelve months ago, mandating authorities to establish laws and assistance programs to end all types of violence.
Latvia has become the first European Union member to begin the process of exiting from the treaty. Turkey pulled out in 2021, a move that human rights organizations characterized as a major regression for gender equality.
Political Debate and Resistance
The treaty was approved by the European Union in last year, yet traditionalist groups have argued that its emphasis on equal rights undermines traditional families and advances what they term "gender ideology".
Following a lengthy discussion in the Latvian parliament, MPs decided 56 to 32 to withdraw from the convention, a action sponsored by political opponents but backed by politicians from one of the three coalition parties.
The result represents a defeat for centre-right government leader the nation's PM, who stood with demonstrators outside parliament earlier this seven-day period. "We will not surrender, we will persist in our struggle so that violence does not triumph," she declared to the assembly.
Ideological Disagreements and Responses
One of the primary parties advocating for the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose leader has urged the public to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with multiple sexes".
Latvia's ombudswoman Karina Palkova appealed for the agreement not to be made political, while the group Equality Now asserted it was "not a threat to national principles, it served as a tool to realize them".
The Thursday's vote has sparked widespread outcry both inside Latvia and abroad.
22,000 individuals have endorsed a national petition calling for the convention to be maintained. The women's rights organization the rights center has called a protest for next Thursday, charging MPs of ignoring the will of the nation's citizens.
Global Concerns and Possible Future Actions
The leader of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly commented that the Baltic state had made a rash decision driven by false information. He described it as an "never-before-seen and deeply concerning regression for female equality and human rights in Europe".
He noted that since Turkey abandoned the convention four years ago, cases of femicide and abuse targeting females had risen sharply.
Because the decision did not secure a supermajority majority, the head of state could possibly send back the legislation for further consideration if he holds concerns.
Head of State Rinkevics stated on digital platforms that he would assess the decision according to constitutional requirements, "considering governmental and judicial considerations, instead of belief-based viewpoints".
Last week, another component of the ruling coalition, the Progressives, indicated it would not exclude petitioning to the Constitutional Court.
"This decision represents a concerning situation for women's rights not only in our nation but across Europe," commented a rights advocate.
- Family violence statistics have been increasing in several EU countries
- The European treaty mandates specific legal protections for victims of domestic abuse
- Latvia's vote could influence comparable debates in additional EU countries
