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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

The Baltic nation's parliament members have decided to withdraw from an international accord created to safeguard women from violence, covering domestic abuse, following extensive and intense discussions in the parliament.

Several thousand of protesters gathered in the capital this past week to voice disagreement with the decision. The ultimate decision now rests with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must decide whether to endorse or veto the legislation.

Known as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only became active in Latvia last twelve months ago, requiring governments to establish legal frameworks and support services to end all types of abuse.

Latvia has become the initial European Union member to begin the process of withdrawing from the convention. Turkey pulled out in two years ago, a decision that rights groups characterized as a major regression for gender equality.

Political Debate and Opposition

The treaty was approved by the EU in last year, yet conservative groups have contended that its emphasis on equal rights weakens family values and promotes what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a lengthy discussion in the Saeima, MPs voted by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the treaty, a action proposed by opposition parties but backed by politicians from one of the three coalition parties.

The result represents a setback for moderate conservative government leader the nation's PM, who joined protesters outside parliament earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that violence does not triumph," she stated to the assembly.

Political Disagreements and Reactions

One of the primary political groups advocating for the exit is Latvia First, whose leader has urged the public to select from what he terms a "natural family" 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 danger to Latvian values, it was an instrument to realize them".

The recent decision has sparked broad outcry both inside the country and abroad.

22,000 people have signed a Latvian petition demanding the convention to be preserved. The gender equality group the rights center has called a demonstration for next Thursday, accusing lawmakers of ignoring the wishes of the Latvian people.

International Concerns and Possible Future Actions

The leader of the European organization's parliamentary assembly 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 fundamental freedoms in Europe".

He added that since Turkey left the convention in 2021, instances of gender-based killings and abuse targeting females had risen sharply.

Because the decision did not secure a supermajority majority, the head of state could potentially send back the bill for further review if he holds concerns.

President the national leader announced on digital platforms that he would evaluate the decision according to constitutional requirements, "taking into account governmental and judicial considerations, rather than belief-based viewpoints".

Last week, another member of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, indicated it would not exclude petitioning to the supreme judicial body.

"This vote represents a worrisome development for gender equality not only in our nation but throughout Europe," stated a rights advocate.

• Domestic abuse rates have been increasing in several EU nations
• The Istanbul Convention mandates particular legal protections for victims of domestic abuse
• Latvia's vote could influence similar debates in other EU countries