Latvian Lawmakers Vote to Exit Treaty on Protecting Females from Abuse
Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week
The Baltic nation's lawmakers have voted to withdraw from an global treaty created to protect females from violence, covering domestic abuse, following prolonged and heated debates in the parliament.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Riga this week to voice disagreement with the vote. The ultimate authority now lies with Head of State Edgars Rinkevics, who must determine whether to approve or reject the legislation.
Referred to as the European treaty, the 2011 agreement only became active in Latvia last twelve months ago, requiring authorities to develop laws and support services to end all types of abuse.
Latvia has become the initial EU country to initiate the process of exiting from the treaty. Turkey withdrew in two years ago, a move that rights groups described as a significant regression for gender equality.
Ideological Controversy and Resistance
The treaty was approved by the EU in last year, yet conservative factions have contended that its focus on gender equality undermines family values and advances what they term "gender ideology".
Following a lengthy discussion in the Latvian parliament, lawmakers voted by a margin of 56-32 to withdraw from the convention, a action sponsored by political opponents but supported by representatives from one of the three coalition parties.
The result represents a setback for centre-right government leader Evika Silina, who stood with protesters outside the legislature earlier this week. "We will not surrender, we will persist in our struggle so that violence will not prevail," she stated to the crowd.
Political Disagreements and Reactions
One of the main parties supporting the exit is a nationalist party, whose leader has called on the public to select from what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "gender ideology with various gender identities".
Latvia's ombudswoman Karina Palkova appealed for the treaty not to be made political, while the organization Equality Now asserted it was "not a threat to national principles, it served as a tool to realize them".
The Thursday's vote has provoked widespread outcry both inside Latvia and internationally.
22,000 people have signed a Latvian appeal demanding the treaty to be preserved. The women's rights organization Centrs Marta has announced a demonstration for next Thursday, charging MPs of ignoring the wishes of the nation's citizens.
Global Concerns and Possible Future Actions
The leader of the European organization's parliamentary assembly stated that Latvia had made a hasty decision fueled by false information. He described it as an "never-before-seen and deeply concerning step backward for women's rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe".
He added that since Turkey left the convention four years ago, cases of femicide and abuse targeting females had risen sharply.
Because the decision did not achieve a two-thirds majority, the president could potentially return the legislation for additional consideration if he holds objections.
President Rinkevics announced on social media that he would assess the decision according to legal principles, "taking into account governmental and judicial considerations, instead of ideological or political perspectives".
Recently, another component of the ruling coalition, the reformist party, suggested it would not rule out petitioning to the Constitutional Court.
"This vote represents a concerning situation for women's rights not only in our nation but throughout Europe," commented a human rights advocate.
- Family violence statistics have been increasing in several EU nations
- The Istanbul Convention mandates particular legal protections for victims of domestic abuse
- Latvia's decision could affect comparable discussions in other EU countries