The Court noted that, in the absence of official recognition, same-sex couples in Poland are considered de facto relationships, even if they have married abroad.
"This is another ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, requiring Poland to ensure protection and recognition of same-sex couples' relationships. It marks an important day as we begin a new phase of work on registered partnership laws at the Permanent Committee of the Council of Ministers," commented Polish Equality Minister Katarzyna Kotula on X (formerly Twitter).
“We must ensure protection and recognition of the rights of same-sex couples!” - urged the left-wing politician.
Poland advances legislation on registered partnerships
Draft bills on registered partnerships and civil unions in Poland, published in October last year, propose amendments to more than 200 existing laws.
Partners, regardless of gender, will be able to share a surname, file taxes jointly, access medical information about each other, inherit, and arrange burials. Over 6,000 comments have been submitted during public consultations and inter-ministerial discussions.
As confirmed in a conversation with Polish state news agency PAP, Minister Kotula stated that the draft bills have been presented to the Permanent Committee of the Council of Ministers for review.
The government has begun the process of formalizing these bills, with several ministries involved in the revisions.
Poland moves to dismantle LGBT-free zones
While much remains to be done in Poland in the fight against homophobia, the end of the conservative ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) has led to a breakthrough in the southeastern town of Łańcut, where local authorities successfully repealed the last discriminatory resolutions against non-heteronormative individuals.
Due to anti-LGBT resolutions, several local governments had previously been denied millions in EU and Norwegian funding for planned projects.
After six years, no discriminatory resolutions against LGBT people remain in effect in Poland. This is a shared, historic success," emphasized the Campaign Against Homophobia, a Polish civil rights organization advocating for the LGBT community.
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Source: IAR/hudoc.echr.coe.int/X/@KotulaKat/@KPH_official