🔗 Share this article

Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

The Baltic nation's lawmakers have decided to withdraw from an global treaty designed to safeguard females from violence, covering domestic abuse, following prolonged and intense debates in the parliament.

Several thousand of protesters gathered in the capital this week to voice disagreement with the vote. The final authority now rests with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must decide whether to approve or veto the proposed law.

Known as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only took effect in Latvia last twelve months ago, requiring authorities to establish legal frameworks and assistance programs to end all forms of abuse.

The Baltic nation has become the first European Union member to initiate the procedure of exiting from the treaty. Turkey pulled out in two years ago, a decision that human rights organizations characterized as a significant regression for gender equality.

Political Debate and Resistance

The treaty was ratified by the EU in last year, yet traditionalist groups have contended that its emphasis on equal rights weakens traditional families and advances what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a lengthy debate in the Saeima, lawmakers voted by a margin of 56-32 to exit from the treaty, a action proposed by political opponents but backed by representatives from one of the three coalition parties.

The result represents a setback for centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina, who joined protesters outside parliament earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will continue fighting so that abuse will not prevail," she stated to the assembly.

Ideological Divisions and Reactions

One of the primary political groups advocating for the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose leader has called on citizens to choose between what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with multiple sexes".

Latvia's ombudswoman the rights official appealed for the agreement not to be politicized, while the organization 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 sparked broad protest both within the country and abroad.

22,000 people have endorsed a Latvian appeal calling for the treaty to be preserved. The women's rights organization the rights center has announced a protest for the coming week, accusing MPs of disregarding the will of the nation's citizens.

Global Worries and Possible Next Steps

The head of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly commented that Latvia had made a rash choice fueled by misinformation. He characterized it as an "never-before-seen and deeply concerning regression for women's rights and human rights in the continent".

He added that since the transcontinental nation abandoned the treaty in 2021, instances of femicide and violence against women had risen sharply.

Because the decision did not secure a two-thirds majority, the head of state could possibly return the bill for additional consideration if he holds objections.

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

Last week, another component of the ruling coalition, the Progressives, suggested it would not exclude petitioning to the supreme judicial body.

"This vote represents a worrisome development for gender equality not only in Latvia but throughout Europe," commented a human rights activist.

• Family violence statistics have been rising in several European countries
• The Istanbul Convention requires particular safeguards for survivors of gender-based violence
• Latvia's decision could influence similar debates in other EU countries