🔗 Share this article

Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's parliament members have decided to pull out from an international accord created to protect women from abuse, including domestic abuse, following prolonged and heated discussions in the parliament.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Riga this past week to oppose the vote. The final decision now rests with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or veto the legislation.

Referred to as the European treaty, the international accord only became active in Latvia last twelve months ago, mandating authorities to establish laws and support services to end all forms of violence.

Latvia has become the initial EU country to initiate the procedure of withdrawing from the treaty. The transcontinental nation withdrew in two years ago, a decision that human rights organizations characterized as a major regression for women's rights.

Political Debate and Opposition

The treaty was ratified by the EU in 2023, yet conservative factions have argued that its emphasis on gender equality undermines family values and advances what they term "gender ideology".

Following a thirteen-hour discussion in the Latvian parliament, MPs decided by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the convention, a action sponsored by opposition parties but backed by politicians from one of the three coalition parties.

The result represents a defeat for centre-right government leader Evika Silina, who stood with protesters outside the legislature 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 Reactions

One of the main parties advocating for the exit is a nationalist party, whose leader has urged citizens to choose between what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with multiple sexes".

The nation's human rights commissioner Karina Palkova appealed for the agreement not to be made political, while the organization the rights organization stated it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it served as a tool to achieve them".

The Thursday's vote has sparked widespread protest both inside the country and internationally.

22,000 individuals have endorsed a Latvian petition demanding the treaty to be preserved. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has called a demonstration for the coming week, charging lawmakers of disregarding the will of the nation's citizens.

Global Worries and Potential Next Steps

The head of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly commented that Latvia had made a rash decision fueled by misinformation. He described it as an "never-before-seen and extremely worrying regression for female equality and fundamental freedoms in Europe".

He added that since Turkey abandoned the convention four years ago, instances of femicide and violence against women had risen sharply.

Because the decision did not achieve a supermajority majority, the head of state could possibly send back the legislation for additional consideration if he has objections.

President the national leader stated on digital platforms that he would assess the decision according to constitutional requirements, "considering governmental and judicial factors, instead of ideological or political perspectives".

Recently, another component of the governing alliance, the reformist party, indicated it would not rule out appealing to the supreme judicial body.

"This decision represents a concerning development for gender equality not only in our nation but throughout Europe," commented a human rights activist.

• Family violence rates have been rising in several EU nations
• The European treaty requires particular safeguards for victims of gender-based violence
• Latvia's vote could influence similar discussions in other EU countries