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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

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

Thousands of protesters assembled in the capital this past week to oppose the vote. The ultimate authority now rests with President the nation's president, who must decide whether to endorse or veto the proposed law.

Known as the Istanbul Convention, the international accord only became active in the Baltic state last year, mandating governments to establish legal frameworks and assistance programs to end all types of violence.

Latvia has become the first European Union member to initiate the process of exiting from the treaty. Turkey pulled out in 2021, a move that rights groups characterized as a major setback for women's rights.

Political Debate and Resistance

The treaty was approved by the EU in 2023, yet conservative factions have argued that its emphasis on gender equality weakens traditional families and promotes what they term "gender ideology".

Following a thirteen-hour debate in the Latvian parliament, MPs decided by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the treaty, a move proposed by political opponents but supported by representatives from one of the three governing partners.

The outcome represents a setback for moderate conservative Prime Minister Evika Silina, who stood with protesters outside parliament earlier this seven-day period. "We refuse to give up, we will persist in our struggle so that abuse will not prevail," she declared to the crowd.

Ideological Divisions and Reactions

One of the primary political groups supporting the exit is a nationalist party, whose leader has urged the public to choose between what he terms a "natural family" and "gender ideology with various gender identities".

The nation's ombudswoman the rights official 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 decision has provoked broad protest both within the country and abroad.

Twenty-two thousand individuals have signed a national petition demanding the treaty to be preserved. The gender equality group the rights center has called a protest for next Thursday, accusing MPs of ignoring the will of the Latvian people.

International Concerns and Possible Next Steps

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

He added that since Turkey left the convention in 2021, instances of gender-based killings and violence against women had risen sharply.

Because the vote did not achieve a supermajority support, the head of state could potentially return the legislation for further review if he holds concerns.

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

Last week, another component of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, indicated it would not exclude petitioning to the Constitutional Court.

"This vote represents a concerning development for women's rights not only in our nation but throughout Europe," stated a human rights advocate.

• Domestic abuse rates have been increasing in several European nations
• The Istanbul Convention mandates specific safeguards for survivors of gender-based violence
• The nation's decision could affect comparable debates in other member states