Latvia's Parliament Members Vote to Withdraw From Treaty on Protecting Females from Abuse
Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week
The Baltic nation's parliament members have voted to withdraw from an global treaty designed to protect females from violence, including family violence, following prolonged and intense debates in the legislature.
Thousands of demonstrators assembled in Riga this week to voice disagreement with the decision. The ultimate authority now lies with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or veto the legislation.
Known as the Istanbul Convention, the 2011 agreement only took effect in Latvia last twelve months ago, mandating governments to develop laws and assistance programs to end all types of violence.
The Baltic nation has become the first European Union member to initiate the procedure of withdrawing from the convention. Turkey pulled out in two years ago, a move that human rights organizations described as a major setback for women's rights.
Ideological Debate and Opposition
The treaty was approved by the EU in last year, yet conservative factions have contended that its focus on gender equality undermines family values and advances what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".
Following a thirteen-hour discussion in the Saeima, MPs decided by a margin of 56-32 to exit from the convention, a action proposed by political opponents but backed by politicians from one of the three governing partners.
The outcome represents a setback for centre-right government leader Evika Silina, who stood with protesters outside parliament earlier this seven-day period. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that violence does not triumph," she stated to the crowd.
Ideological Divisions and Responses
One of the primary parties supporting the exit is a nationalist party, whose head has urged the public to choose between what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with various gender identities".
The nation's ombudswoman Karina Palkova appealed for the agreement not to be made political, 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 broad outcry both inside Latvia and internationally.
Twenty-two thousand people have signed a Latvian appeal demanding the treaty to be maintained. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has called a protest for the coming week, accusing MPs of ignoring the wishes of the nation's citizens.
International Worries and Potential Next Steps
The leader of the Council of Europe's legislative body commented that Latvia had made a hasty choice driven by false information. He described it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying regression for women's rights and human rights in the continent".
He added that since Turkey abandoned the convention in 2021, instances of gender-based killings and abuse targeting females had increased significantly.
Because the vote did not achieve a supermajority support, the head of state could potentially send back the legislation for additional review if he holds concerns.
Head of State the national leader announced on digital platforms that he would assess the decision according to constitutional principles, "taking into account state and legal factors, rather than ideological or political perspectives".
Last week, another member of the governing alliance, the reformist party, suggested it would not rule out petitioning to the supreme judicial body.
"This vote represents a worrisome development for women's rights not only in our nation but throughout Europe," commented a rights advocate.
- Domestic abuse statistics have been rising in several EU nations
- The Istanbul Convention mandates particular legal protections for victims of domestic abuse
- Latvia's vote could influence comparable debates in other EU countries