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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's parliament members have voted to withdraw from an international accord created to safeguard women from abuse, including family violence, following extensive and heated debates in the legislature.

Several thousand of demonstrators assembled in the capital this past week to oppose the decision. The final decision now rests with President the nation's president, who must decide whether to approve or reject the proposed law.

Referred to as the Istanbul Convention, the international accord only took effect in the Baltic state last year, requiring authorities to establish legal frameworks and assistance programs to end all types of violence.

Latvia has become the initial EU country to initiate the process of withdrawing from the convention. The transcontinental nation pulled out in two years ago, a move that rights groups characterized as a major regression for gender equality.

Ideological Debate and Opposition

The treaty was ratified by the EU in last year, yet conservative groups have argued that its emphasis on gender equality undermines family values and promotes what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a lengthy discussion in the Latvian parliament, lawmakers decided by a margin of 56-32 to exit from the convention, a move proposed by opposition parties but backed by representatives from one of the three coalition parties.

The result represents a defeat for centre-right government leader the nation's PM, who joined protesters outside the legislature earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that abuse will not prevail," she declared to the crowd.

Political Divisions and Responses

One of the main parties advocating for the withdrawal is a nationalist party, whose head has called on citizens to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with multiple sexes".

The nation's human rights commissioner the rights official urged the treaty not to be made political, while the organization the rights organization asserted it was "not a threat to Latvian values, it served as a tool to realize them".

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

22,000 people have endorsed a Latvian appeal calling for the treaty to be maintained. The women's rights organization the rights center has announced a demonstration for next Thursday, charging lawmakers of disregarding the will of the Latvian people.

Global Worries and Possible Next Steps

The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly stated that the Baltic state had made a hasty choice fueled by false information. He described it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying step backward for women's rights and human rights in Europe".

He noted that since Turkey left the treaty four years ago, instances of femicide and violence against women had increased significantly.

Because the decision did not secure a supermajority support, the president could potentially send back the bill for further consideration if he holds concerns.

Head of State Rinkevics stated on social media that he would evaluate the vote according to constitutional requirements, "taking into account governmental and judicial considerations, instead of ideological or political viewpoints".

Recently, another member of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, indicated it would not exclude appealing to the supreme judicial body.

"This vote represents a concerning situation for women's rights not only in Latvia but throughout Europe," stated a rights activist.

• Domestic abuse statistics have been increasing in multiple European nations
• The Istanbul Convention mandates particular legal protections for survivors of gender-based violence
• Latvia's decision could affect comparable discussions in other EU countries