Latvia's Parliament Members Vote to Withdraw From Treaty on Safeguarding Women from Violence
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 violence, including family violence, following extensive and intense debates in the parliament.
Thousands of demonstrators assembled in the capital this week to voice disagreement with the decision. The final decision now rests with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or veto the proposed law.
Referred to as the European treaty, the international accord only took effect in Latvia last year, requiring authorities to establish legal frameworks and support services to eliminate all types of violence.
Latvia has become the first European Union member to begin the process of exiting from the convention. Turkey withdrew in two years ago, a move that rights groups characterized as a major setback for gender equality.
Political Debate and Resistance
The treaty was approved by the EU in 2023, yet traditionalist groups have argued that its emphasis on gender equality undermines family values and promotes what they term "gender ideology".
Following a lengthy discussion in the Saeima, lawmakers decided by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the convention, a move proposed by political opponents but backed by representatives from one of the three governing partners.
The result represents a defeat for moderate conservative government leader Evika Silina, who stood with demonstrators outside the legislature earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will continue fighting so that abuse will not prevail," she stated to the assembly.
Political Disagreements and Responses
One of the main parties advocating for the withdrawal is Latvia First, whose leader has called on citizens to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with multiple sexes".
Latvia's human rights commissioner Karina Palkova appealed for the agreement not to be made political, while the group the rights organization asserted it was "not a threat to national principles, it served as a tool to realize them".
The Thursday's decision has provoked widespread outcry both inside Latvia and internationally.
22,000 people have endorsed a Latvian appeal calling for the convention to be maintained. The gender equality group the rights center has called a protest for next Thursday, accusing MPs of ignoring the wishes of the Latvian people.
International Concerns and Potential Next Steps
The head of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly commented that Latvia had made a hasty choice driven by false information. He characterized it as an "unprecedented and deeply concerning regression for women's rights and human rights in the continent".
He added that since the transcontinental nation left the convention four years ago, instances of femicide and abuse targeting females had risen sharply.
Because the decision did not secure a two-thirds support, the head of state could possibly send back the legislation for additional consideration if he has concerns.
Head of State Rinkevics announced on social media that he would assess the vote according to legal requirements, "taking into account governmental and judicial considerations, instead of ideological or political perspectives".
Last week, another member of the governing alliance, the Progressives, indicated it would not exclude petitioning to the Constitutional Court.
"This vote represents a concerning development for gender equality not only in Latvia but throughout Europe," stated a rights activist.
- Domestic abuse statistics have been increasing in several European countries
- The European treaty requires particular legal protections for victims of gender-based violence
- Latvia's vote could influence comparable debates in additional EU countries
