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Protesters gathered outside the legislative building this week

Latvia's lawmakers have decided to pull out from an global treaty designed to safeguard women from violence, including family violence, following prolonged and intense discussions in the parliament.

Several thousand of protesters assembled in the capital this week to oppose the vote. The ultimate authority now lies with President the nation's president, who must determine whether to endorse or veto the proposed law.

Referred to as the Istanbul Convention, the 2011 agreement only took effect in the Baltic state last twelve months ago, mandating governments to establish laws and assistance programs to end all types of abuse.

Latvia has become the first EU country to initiate the procedure of exiting from the treaty. Turkey withdrew in two years ago, a decision that human rights organizations characterized as a major setback for gender equality.

Ideological Debate and Opposition

The international agreement was ratified by the EU in last year, yet traditionalist groups have argued that its focus on equal rights weakens traditional families and advances what they term "non-traditional gender concepts".

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 opposition parties but backed by politicians from one of the three governing partners.

The outcome represents a setback for moderate conservative Prime Minister the nation's PM, who stood with protesters outside parliament earlier this week. "We refuse to give up, we will continue fighting so that abuse will not prevail," she declared to the assembly.

Political Divisions and Responses

One of the main political groups supporting the exit is Latvia First, whose leader has called on the public to choose between what he terms a "traditional family unit" and "non-binary concepts with multiple sexes".

Latvia's ombudswoman Karina Palkova urged the agreement not to be politicized, while the group Equality Now stated it was "not a threat to national principles, it served as a tool to realize them".

The Thursday's vote has sparked broad protest both inside the country and internationally.

Twenty-two thousand individuals have signed a Latvian appeal calling for the treaty to be maintained. The women's rights organization the rights center has called a demonstration for next Thursday, accusing lawmakers of ignoring the wishes of the Latvian people.

Global Concerns and Potential Next Steps

The head of the European organization's parliamentary assembly commented that Latvia had made a hasty decision fueled by misinformation. He described it as an "never-before-seen and extremely worrying step backward for women's rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe".

He added that since Turkey left the convention four years ago, cases of gender-based killings and abuse targeting females had increased significantly.

Because the decision did not secure a two-thirds majority, the head of state could possibly send back the legislation for additional review if he holds objections.

President Rinkevics announced on digital platforms that he would assess the decision according to constitutional requirements, "taking into account state and legal considerations, rather than ideological or political viewpoints".

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

"This vote represents a worrisome situation for gender equality not only in Latvia but across the continent," commented a rights activist.

• Family violence statistics have been increasing in multiple EU nations
• The Istanbul Convention mandates specific legal protections for victims of gender-based violence
• Latvia's vote could affect comparable discussions in additional EU countries