The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has made a groundbreaking decision mandating Poland to officially acknowledge and safeguard same-sex unions, emphasizing the country’s responsibilities as an EU member to uphold “equal rights” for all couples.
Poland’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriages, particularly those performed abroad, was deemed a violation of individual rights, with the court urging the government to enact appropriate legislation.
This is not the first time the ECHR has addressed Poland’s treatment of same-sex couples. In 2023, the court found that Poland’s refusal to recognize same-sex unions violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Michał Woś, former deputy justice minister under the Law & Justice (PiS government), criticized the ECtHR ruling, saying it is part of a broader effort by European elites to force values onto Poland that conflict with its national identity. He pointed out that, under Poland’s constitution, marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman.
Draft bills on registered partnerships and civil unions in Poland, released in October last year, propose changes to more than 200 existing laws but face opposition from both PiS and the center-right Polish People’s Party (PLS).
