🔗 Share this article

Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

The Baltic nation's lawmakers have decided to pull out from an global treaty designed to safeguard women from violence, covering family violence, following prolonged and intense debates in the legislature.

Several thousand of demonstrators gathered in Riga this past week to oppose the decision. The final decision now lies with President the nation's president, who must determine whether to approve or veto the legislation.

Referred to as the Istanbul Convention, the international accord only took effect in Latvia last year, mandating authorities to develop laws and assistance programs to eliminate all types of abuse.

Latvia has become the initial EU country to begin the process of withdrawing from the treaty. Turkey pulled out in two years ago, a decision that human rights organizations described as a major setback for gender equality.

Political Controversy and Resistance

The international agreement was ratified by the European Union in 2023, yet traditionalist groups have contended that its emphasis on gender equality weakens traditional families and advances what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a thirteen-hour debate in the Saeima, lawmakers decided by a margin of 56-32 to exit from the convention, a action sponsored by opposition parties but supported by politicians from one of the three governing partners.

The outcome represents a defeat for centre-right government leader the nation's PM, who stood with protesters outside the legislature earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will persist in our struggle so that violence does not triumph," she stated to the crowd.

Ideological Disagreements and Responses

One of the main parties supporting the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose head has called on citizens to choose between what he terms a "natural family" and "non-binary concepts with multiple sexes".

Latvia's ombudswoman the rights official urged the agreement not to be politicized, while the group Equality Now stated it was "not a threat to national principles, it served as a tool to achieve them".

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

22,000 individuals have signed a Latvian petition calling for the treaty to be preserved. The gender equality group the rights center has called a protest for the coming week, charging MPs of ignoring the will of the Latvian people.

Global Concerns and Possible Next Steps

The head of the European organization's legislative body commented that the Baltic state had made a rash choice driven by misinformation. He characterized it as an "unprecedented and deeply concerning regression for women's rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe".

He added that since the transcontinental nation left the convention four years ago, instances of femicide and violence against women had increased significantly.

Because the decision did not secure a supermajority support, the head of state could potentially send back the bill for further review if he has objections.

Head of State Rinkevics stated on digital platforms that he would evaluate the decision according to constitutional requirements, "taking into account state and legal factors, instead of belief-based perspectives".

Recently, another member of the ruling coalition, the Progressives, suggested it would not exclude petitioning to the supreme judicial body.

"This vote represents a concerning situation for women's rights not only in Latvia but across the continent," stated a human rights advocate.

• Family violence statistics have been rising in multiple EU countries
• The Istanbul Convention mandates particular safeguards for victims of gender-based violence
• The nation's vote could influence similar debates in other member states