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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's lawmakers have voted to withdraw from an international accord created to protect women from abuse, covering domestic abuse, following prolonged and intense discussions in the parliament.

Several thousand of demonstrators gathered in Riga this week to voice disagreement with the decision. The final authority now rests with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or veto the proposed law.

Known as the European treaty, the international accord only became active in the Baltic state last twelve months ago, requiring governments to establish laws and assistance programs to end all forms of abuse.

The Baltic nation has become the first EU country to begin the procedure of exiting from the convention. Turkey pulled out in two years ago, a move that human rights organizations characterized as a significant setback for gender equality.

Political Controversy and Resistance

The treaty was ratified by the EU in last year, yet conservative factions have contended that its focus on gender equality undermines family values and promotes what they term "gender ideology".

Following a lengthy discussion in the Saeima, MPs decided by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the convention, a action sponsored by political opponents but backed by politicians from one of the three governing partners.

The outcome represents a defeat for centre-right Prime Minister Evika Silina, who stood with protesters outside the legislature earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will continue fighting so that violence does not triumph," she stated to the crowd.

Ideological Disagreements and Responses

One of the main political groups advocating for the exit is Latvia First, whose head has urged citizens to choose between what he terms a "natural family" and "non-binary concepts with various gender identities".

Latvia's ombudswoman Karina Palkova urged the treaty not to be made political, while the group the rights organization asserted it was "not a threat to Latvian values, it was an instrument to achieve them".

The Thursday's vote has provoked widespread protest both inside the country and internationally.

Twenty-two thousand individuals have signed a Latvian appeal demanding the treaty to be maintained. The gender equality group the rights center has called a protest for next Thursday, charging MPs of ignoring the will of the nation's citizens.

Global Worries and Potential Next Steps

The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly stated that Latvia had made a rash decision fueled by false information. He characterized it as an "unprecedented and extremely worrying step backward for women's rights and human rights in the continent".

He added that since Turkey abandoned the convention four years ago, cases of gender-based killings and violence against women had increased significantly.

Because the decision did not achieve a two-thirds majority, the head of state could possibly return the legislation for further review if he has concerns.

Head of State the national leader announced on social media that he would assess the vote according to constitutional principles, "taking into account state and legal factors, rather than belief-based perspectives".

Recently, another component of the ruling coalition, the Progressives, indicated it would not rule out petitioning to the Constitutional Court.

"This decision represents a worrisome situation for gender equality not only in Latvia but throughout Europe," commented a rights advocate.

• Family violence rates have been increasing in several EU countries
• The Istanbul Convention requires particular legal protections for victims of gender-based violence
• Latvia's decision could influence similar discussions in additional EU countries