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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's parliament members have decided to pull out from an international accord created to safeguard women from abuse, covering family violence, following extensive and intense debates in the parliament.

Several thousand of demonstrators assembled in the capital this week to oppose the decision. The final decision now rests with Head of State the nation's president, who must determine whether to approve or veto the legislation.

Referred to as the European treaty, the international accord only took effect in Latvia last year, requiring authorities to develop laws and assistance programs to eliminate all types of violence.

Latvia has become the initial European Union member to initiate the process of withdrawing from the convention. Turkey pulled out in 2021, a move that rights groups described as a major regression for women's rights.

Ideological Controversy and Resistance

The treaty was approved by the EU in 2023, yet conservative groups have contended that its focus on equal rights weakens traditional families and promotes what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

Following a thirteen-hour discussion in the Latvian parliament, MPs voted by a margin of 56-32 to exit from the convention, a move proposed by opposition parties but backed by politicians from one of the three governing partners.

The outcome represents a defeat for moderate conservative Prime Minister the nation's PM, who joined protesters outside the legislature earlier this seven-day period. "We refuse to give up, we will persist in our struggle so that violence does not triumph," she stated to the assembly.

Political Divisions and Reactions

One of the primary political groups advocating for the exit is Latvia First, whose head has called on the public to select from what he terms a "natural family" and "non-binary concepts with multiple sexes".

The nation's ombudswoman the rights official urged the agreement not to be made political, while the group the rights organization stated it was "not a danger to Latvian values, it served as a tool to realize them".

The Thursday's decision has sparked broad outcry both inside Latvia and abroad.

Twenty-two thousand people have signed a Latvian petition calling for the treaty to be preserved. The women's rights organization the rights center has called a protest for next Thursday, charging lawmakers of disregarding the will of the nation's citizens.

International Concerns and Possible Next Steps

The leader of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly commented that the Baltic state had made a rash choice driven by misinformation. He described it as an "unprecedented and deeply concerning regression for female equality and human rights in Europe".

He noted that since Turkey left the convention four years ago, cases of femicide and violence against women had increased significantly.

Because the vote did not secure a two-thirds majority, the president could possibly send back the legislation for additional consideration if he holds concerns.

Head of State the national leader announced on social media that he would evaluate the decision according to constitutional requirements, "considering state and legal considerations, rather than belief-based viewpoints".

Recently, another component of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, suggested it would not rule out petitioning to the supreme judicial body.

"This decision represents a worrisome development for women's rights not only in our nation but across the continent," commented a human rights activist.

• Domestic abuse statistics have been increasing in multiple European countries
• The European treaty requires specific safeguards for victims of domestic abuse
• The nation's decision could affect comparable discussions in additional EU countries