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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's parliament members have voted to withdraw from an international accord designed to safeguard women from violence, including domestic abuse, following extensive and intense debates in the legislature.

Several thousand of protesters assembled in Riga this week to voice disagreement with the decision. The ultimate authority now rests with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must decide whether to endorse or veto the proposed law.

Known as the Istanbul Convention, the international accord only took effect in the Baltic state last year, mandating governments to establish legal frameworks and support services to eliminate all types of violence.

Latvia has become the first EU country to begin the process of withdrawing from the convention. Turkey pulled out in two years ago, a decision that rights groups described as a significant setback for gender equality.

Political Debate and Opposition

The treaty was ratified by the EU in 2023, yet traditionalist factions have contended that its focus on equal rights undermines family values and advances what they term "gender ideology".

Following a lengthy discussion in the Latvian parliament, MPs decided by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the treaty, a move proposed by opposition parties but backed by politicians from one of the three coalition parties.

The outcome represents a setback for centre-right Prime Minister the nation's PM, who joined demonstrators outside the legislature earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that violence does not triumph," she stated to the assembly.

Ideological Divisions and Responses

One of the main political groups supporting the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose leader has called on citizens to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with various gender identities".

Latvia's human rights commissioner the rights official urged the agreement not to be politicized, while the group the rights organization stated it was "not a threat to Latvian values, it served as a tool to achieve them".

The Thursday's vote has provoked broad outcry both inside the country and abroad.

22,000 people have signed a Latvian petition calling for the treaty to be maintained. The women's rights organization the rights center has called a protest for next Thursday, accusing lawmakers of ignoring the wishes of the nation's citizens.

International Concerns and Possible Future Actions

The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly stated that Latvia had made a hasty choice driven by false information. He characterized it as an "never-before-seen and extremely worrying step backward for female equality and fundamental freedoms in Europe".

He noted that since Turkey abandoned the convention four years ago, instances of gender-based killings and violence against women had increased significantly.

Because the vote did not achieve a supermajority support, the president could possibly send back the legislation for additional review if he has objections.

President the national leader stated on digital platforms that he would assess the vote according to constitutional principles, "considering governmental and judicial considerations, rather than ideological or political perspectives".

Recently, another member of the governing alliance, the reformist party, indicated it would not exclude petitioning to the supreme judicial body.

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

• Domestic abuse statistics have been increasing in several EU nations
• The Istanbul Convention requires specific legal protections for victims of gender-based violence
• Latvia's decision could affect comparable discussions in other member states