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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

The Baltic nation's lawmakers have voted to withdraw from an global treaty created to protect women from abuse, covering domestic abuse, following prolonged and intense discussions in the parliament.

Thousands of protesters gathered in the capital this week to voice disagreement with the decision. The ultimate authority now lies with Head of State the nation's president, who must determine whether to endorse or reject the legislation.

Referred to as the European treaty, the international accord only became active in the Baltic state last twelve months ago, mandating authorities to establish laws and assistance programs to eliminate all types of violence.

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

Ideological Controversy and Opposition

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

Following a lengthy debate in the Saeima, lawmakers voted by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the treaty, a move 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 the nation's PM, who stood with demonstrators outside the legislature earlier this seven-day period. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that violence does not triumph," she declared to the assembly.

Political Disagreements and Responses

One of the main parties advocating for the withdrawal is a nationalist party, whose leader has urged the public to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with various gender identities".

Latvia's ombudswoman the rights official appealed for the treaty not to be politicized, while the organization Equality Now stated it was "not a threat to national principles, it served as a tool to realize them".

The recent vote has provoked broad protest both within Latvia and internationally.

22,000 people have signed a Latvian petition demanding the treaty to be maintained. The gender equality group the rights center has announced a protest for next Thursday, accusing lawmakers of ignoring the will of the Latvian people.

International Concerns and Potential Future Actions

The head of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly commented that the Baltic state had made a hasty decision fueled by false information. He described it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying step backward for female equality and human rights in the continent".

He noted that since the transcontinental nation abandoned the convention four years ago, cases of femicide and abuse targeting females had increased significantly.

Because the decision did not secure a supermajority support, the president could potentially 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, "taking into account state and legal factors, rather than ideological or political perspectives".

Last week, another component of the governing alliance, the reformist party, indicated it would not rule out petitioning to the Constitutional Court.

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

• Domestic abuse statistics have been increasing in multiple European nations
• The European treaty requires specific legal protections for survivors of gender-based violence
• Latvia's decision could influence similar discussions in additional member states