Latvian Parliament Members Vote to Withdraw From Treaty on Safeguarding Females from Violence
Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week
The Baltic nation's lawmakers have decided to pull out from an global treaty created to protect females from violence, including family violence, following extensive and heated discussions in the legislature.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Riga this week to oppose the decision. The ultimate decision now lies with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must decide whether to endorse or reject the proposed law.
Known as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only became active in the Baltic state last year, mandating authorities to establish legal frameworks and support services to end all forms of violence.
Latvia has become the first EU country to begin the process of withdrawing from the convention. The transcontinental nation pulled out in 2021, a move that rights groups characterized as a significant setback for women's rights.
Political Debate and Resistance
The treaty was approved by the EU in last year, yet traditionalist groups have argued that its focus on equal rights undermines family values and promotes what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".
Following a lengthy debate in the Latvian parliament, MPs voted by a margin of 56-32 to exit from the treaty, 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 government leader Evika Silina, who joined protesters outside parliament earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will continue fighting so that violence does not triumph," she declared to the assembly.
Political Disagreements and Responses
One of the main political groups advocating for the exit is Latvia First, whose head has called on citizens to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with various gender identities".
The nation's human rights commissioner Karina Palkova appealed for the agreement not to be made political, while the organization the rights organization asserted it was "not a threat to Latvian values, it was an instrument to achieve them".
The recent decision has provoked widespread outcry both inside Latvia and abroad.
22,000 people have signed a national appeal demanding the convention to be maintained. The gender equality group Centrs Marta has announced a protest for next Thursday, accusing MPs of ignoring the wishes of the nation's citizens.
International Worries and Possible Next Steps
The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly stated that Latvia had made a rash choice fueled by misinformation. He characterized it as an "never-before-seen and deeply concerning step backward for female equality and fundamental freedoms in the continent".
He added that since the transcontinental nation abandoned the convention four years ago, instances of gender-based killings and abuse targeting females had risen sharply.
Because the decision did not achieve a two-thirds majority, the president could possibly send back the bill for additional consideration if he holds objections.
President Rinkevics announced on digital platforms that he would assess the vote according to legal requirements, "taking into account governmental and judicial factors, instead of ideological or political viewpoints".
Last week, another member of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, indicated it would not exclude petitioning to the Constitutional Court.
"This vote represents a concerning situation for gender equality not only in Latvia but across Europe," stated a rights activist.
- Domestic abuse rates have been increasing in several EU nations
- The European treaty requires specific safeguards for victims of gender-based violence
- Latvia's vote could affect similar discussions in additional EU countries