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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

The Baltic nation's parliament members have decided to pull out from an international accord designed to protect women from abuse, covering family violence, following prolonged and intense discussions in the parliament.

Thousands of protesters gathered in the capital this week to oppose the vote. The ultimate decision now lies with Head of State the nation's president, who must determine whether to approve or veto the proposed law.

Referred to as the European treaty, the international accord only took effect in Latvia last year, mandating governments to develop legal frameworks and support services to eliminate all types of violence.

The Baltic nation has become the initial EU country to initiate the procedure of exiting from the treaty. The transcontinental nation withdrew in two years ago, a move that human rights organizations described as a major setback for women's rights.

Political Controversy and Opposition

The treaty was ratified by the European Union in last year, yet conservative factions have contended that its focus on equal rights weakens traditional families and advances what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a lengthy discussion in the Latvian parliament, MPs voted by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the treaty, a move proposed by political opponents but supported by representatives from one of the three coalition parties.

The outcome represents a setback for moderate conservative Prime Minister the nation's PM, who stood with protesters outside the legislature earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will persist in our struggle so that violence does not triumph," she declared to the assembly.

Ideological Divisions and Responses

One of the main political groups advocating for the withdrawal is a nationalist party, whose leader has called on citizens to choose between what he terms a "natural family" and "gender ideology with multiple sexes".

Latvia's ombudswoman Karina Palkova appealed for the agreement not to be made political, while the organization the rights organization asserted it was "not a danger to national principles, it was an instrument to achieve them".

The Thursday's decision has provoked broad outcry both within the country and abroad.

Twenty-two thousand people have signed a national appeal demanding the convention to be maintained. The women's rights organization the rights center has called a demonstration for next Thursday, charging lawmakers of ignoring the will of the Latvian people.

International Concerns and Possible Next Steps

The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly stated that Latvia had made a hasty decision fueled by misinformation. He characterized it as an "never-before-seen and deeply concerning step backward for women's rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe".

He added that since the transcontinental nation abandoned the convention in 2021, instances of gender-based killings and violence against women had risen sharply.

Because the decision did not achieve a two-thirds support, the president could possibly return the legislation for further consideration if he holds concerns.

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 ideological or political viewpoints".

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

"This decision represents a concerning development for gender equality not only in our nation but throughout the continent," stated a human rights advocate.

• Domestic abuse statistics have been increasing in several EU countries
• The European treaty mandates particular legal protections for victims of gender-based violence
• Latvia's decision could influence similar debates in additional member states