Latvian Lawmakers Decide to Withdraw From Treaty on Protecting Women from Violence
Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week
Latvia's lawmakers have voted to withdraw from an global treaty created to safeguard women from abuse, including domestic abuse, following extensive and heated debates in the legislature.
Thousands of protesters assembled in Riga this past week to voice disagreement with the decision. The ultimate decision now lies with Head of State the nation's president, who must decide whether to endorse 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 violence.
The Baltic nation has become the initial EU country to begin the procedure of withdrawing from the convention. The transcontinental nation withdrew in 2021, a decision that human rights organizations described as a significant setback for women's rights.
Political Debate and Opposition
The treaty was ratified by the EU in 2023, yet conservative groups have contended that its focus on gender equality weakens traditional families and advances what they term "gender ideology".
Following a thirteen-hour discussion in the Latvian parliament, MPs decided by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the treaty, a action proposed by political opponents but supported by representatives from one of the three governing partners.
The result represents a setback for centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina, who stood with demonstrators outside the legislature earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will continue fighting so that violence will not prevail," she declared to the assembly.
Ideological Disagreements and Reactions
One of the primary parties advocating for the exit is Latvia First, whose leader has urged the public to choose between what he terms a "natural family" and "gender ideology with multiple sexes".
Latvia's human rights commissioner Karina Palkova urged the treaty not to be made political, while the organization Equality Now stated it was "not a danger to national principles, it served as a tool to achieve them".
The recent decision has sparked broad outcry both inside the country and abroad.
22,000 people have signed a national petition calling for the convention to be preserved. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has announced a protest for the coming week, accusing lawmakers of disregarding the will of the nation's citizens.
Global Concerns and Potential Future Actions
The head of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly commented that the Baltic state had made a rash choice driven by false information. He described it as an "never-before-seen and deeply concerning regression for female equality and fundamental freedoms in Europe".
He added that since the transcontinental nation left the treaty four years ago, instances of gender-based killings and abuse targeting females had risen sharply.
Because the decision did not achieve a supermajority support, the president could possibly send back the bill for additional consideration if he has objections.
Head of State Rinkevics announced on digital platforms that he would assess the vote according to constitutional requirements, "taking into account governmental and judicial considerations, rather than belief-based viewpoints".
Last week, another component of the governing alliance, the reformist party, suggested it would not rule out appealing to the Constitutional Court.
"This vote represents a concerning situation for gender equality not only in Latvia but throughout Europe," commented a human rights advocate.
- Family violence rates have been increasing in multiple EU countries
- The European treaty requires particular legal protections for survivors of gender-based violence
- Latvia's decision could influence similar discussions in additional member states
