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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's parliament members have voted to pull out from an international accord designed to safeguard women from abuse, covering family violence, following extensive and heated debates in the legislature.

Thousands of protesters assembled in Riga this past week to voice disagreement with the decision. The final decision now lies with President the nation's president, who must decide whether to approve or veto the proposed law.

Known as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only took effect in the Baltic state last year, requiring authorities to develop legal frameworks and assistance programs to eliminate all forms of abuse.

Latvia has become the first European Union member to initiate the procedure of withdrawing from the treaty. The transcontinental nation pulled out in 2021, a move that human rights organizations characterized as a major setback for gender equality.

Ideological Debate and Opposition

The international agreement was approved by the European Union in last year, yet traditionalist factions have argued that its emphasis on gender equality undermines family values and advances what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a thirteen-hour discussion in the Saeima, lawmakers decided 56 to 32 to exit from the convention, a move sponsored by political opponents but supported by representatives from one of the three governing partners.

The outcome represents a setback for centre-right Prime Minister the nation's PM, who joined demonstrators outside parliament earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will continue fighting so that violence will not prevail," she stated to the crowd.

Ideological Disagreements and Reactions

One of the primary political groups advocating for the withdrawal is a nationalist party, whose leader has called on the public to select from 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 group the rights organization asserted it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it served as a tool to realize them".

The Thursday's vote has provoked widespread outcry both inside the country and abroad.

22,000 individuals have signed a Latvian petition calling for the treaty to be preserved. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has announced a demonstration for the coming week, accusing MPs of disregarding the will of the Latvian people.

International Worries and Potential Next Steps

The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly commented that Latvia had made a hasty decision fueled by false information. He described it as an "unprecedented and deeply concerning step backward for female equality and human rights in the continent".

He added that since the transcontinental nation left the convention four years ago, instances of gender-based killings and abuse targeting females had risen sharply.

Because the vote did not secure a two-thirds support, the president could potentially send back the bill for additional consideration if he has concerns.

President Rinkevics stated on digital platforms that he would assess the vote according to legal requirements, "considering state and legal factors, rather than belief-based viewpoints".

Last week, another member of the governing alliance, the Progressives, indicated it would not rule out petitioning to the Constitutional Court.

"This decision represents a worrisome development for gender equality not only in our nation but across Europe," commented a rights activist.

• Family violence statistics have been increasing in several EU countries
• The European treaty requires particular legal protections for survivors of domestic abuse
• Latvia's decision could influence comparable debates in other EU countries