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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

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

Several thousand of demonstrators gathered in the capital this past week to oppose the vote. The ultimate decision now rests with Head of State the nation's president, who must decide whether to endorse or veto the proposed law.

Referred to as the Istanbul Convention, the 2011 agreement only took effect in the Baltic state last twelve months ago, requiring authorities to establish laws and support services to eliminate all forms of abuse.

The Baltic nation has become the first EU country to initiate the procedure of exiting from the treaty. Turkey withdrew in 2021, a move that human rights organizations described as a major setback for women's rights.

Political Controversy and Resistance

The treaty was ratified by the EU in 2023, yet traditionalist factions have contended that its emphasis on equal rights weakens family values and advances what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a thirteen-hour discussion in the Latvian parliament, lawmakers decided by a margin of 56-32 to exit from the treaty, a move proposed by political opponents but supported by representatives from one of the three coalition parties.

The outcome represents a setback for centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina, who stood with protesters outside the legislature earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will continue fighting so that violence will not prevail," she stated to the crowd.

Ideological Disagreements and Reactions

One of the main parties supporting the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose head has urged the public to choose between what he terms a "natural family" and "gender ideology with various gender identities".

Latvia's human rights commissioner the rights official urged the agreement not to be politicized, while the organization Equality Now asserted it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it was an instrument to achieve them".

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

Twenty-two thousand people have endorsed a national appeal demanding the convention to be preserved. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has called a demonstration for next Thursday, charging MPs of ignoring the wishes of the nation's citizens.

International Concerns and Possible Future Actions

The head of the European organization's legislative body commented that Latvia had made a rash choice fueled by false information. He described it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying regression for female equality and fundamental freedoms in Europe".

He noted that since Turkey abandoned the convention in 2021, cases of femicide and abuse targeting females had increased significantly.

Because the decision did not secure a two-thirds support, the head of state could potentially send back the bill for additional review if he has concerns.

Head of State the national leader stated on social media that he would evaluate the decision according to constitutional requirements, "considering governmental and judicial factors, rather than belief-based viewpoints".

Last week, another member of the governing alliance, the reformist party, suggested it would not exclude petitioning to the Constitutional Court.

"This vote represents a worrisome situation for gender equality not only in our nation but across the continent," commented a rights activist.

• Family violence statistics have been rising in multiple European countries
• The Istanbul Convention requires specific legal protections for survivors of domestic abuse
• Latvia's vote could affect similar discussions in additional member states