Latvia's Lawmakers Vote to Withdraw From International Accord on Protecting Women from Violence
Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week
Latvia's lawmakers have voted to pull out from an international accord designed to safeguard women from violence, covering domestic abuse, following extensive and intense discussions in the legislature.
Several thousand of protesters assembled in Riga this week to oppose the decision. The ultimate authority now lies with President Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or reject the proposed law.
Known as the Istanbul Convention, the international accord only became active in Latvia last twelve months ago, requiring authorities to develop legal frameworks and assistance programs to eliminate all forms of violence.
Latvia has become the first European Union member to initiate the process of withdrawing from the treaty. Turkey withdrew in two years ago, a move that rights groups characterized as a significant regression for women's rights.
Political Debate and Opposition
The treaty was ratified by the EU in last year, yet traditionalist factions have argued 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, lawmakers decided 56 to 32 to withdraw from the convention, a move sponsored by political opponents but supported by politicians from one of the three coalition parties.
The result represents a setback for centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina, who stood with protesters outside parliament earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that abuse will not prevail," she declared to the assembly.
Political Divisions and Reactions
One of the main parties supporting the withdrawal is a nationalist party, whose leader has urged citizens to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with multiple sexes".
The nation's human rights commissioner the rights official urged the agreement not to be politicized, while the group the rights organization asserted it was "not a danger to national principles, it served as a tool to achieve them".
The Thursday's vote has provoked broad outcry both inside the country and internationally.
22,000 people have endorsed a Latvian petition demanding the treaty to be maintained. The women's rights organization the rights center has announced a protest for next Thursday, accusing MPs of ignoring the will of the nation's citizens.
International Worries and Possible Next Steps
The leader of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly commented that the Baltic state had made a rash decision driven by misinformation. He described it as an "never-before-seen and deeply concerning step backward for female equality and human rights in the continent".
He added that since Turkey left the treaty in 2021, cases of gender-based killings and abuse targeting females had risen sharply.
Because the decision did not achieve a supermajority support, the head of state could potentially return the bill for further review if he holds concerns.
Head of State Rinkevics announced on social media that he would assess the vote according to legal requirements, "considering governmental and judicial factors, rather than ideological or political perspectives".
Recently, another component of the ruling coalition, the Progressives, indicated it would not rule out appealing to the Constitutional Court.
"This vote represents a concerning situation for women's rights not only in our nation but throughout the continent," commented a rights activist.
- Domestic abuse rates have been increasing in multiple EU countries
- The Istanbul Convention mandates particular legal protections for victims of gender-based violence
- Latvia's vote could affect similar discussions in other EU countries