Slovakia Adopts Constitutional Amendments Defining Gender, Restricting Adoption and Surrogacy

Slovakia has passed a significant constitutional amendment that legally recognizes only two sexes, male and female, while banning surrogacy and restricting adoption to married heterosexual couples. This change, approved by a three-fifths majority in parliament, was championed by Prime Minister Robert Fico as a defense of traditional Christian values and a stand against what he calls 'progressive ideology' spreading from the European Union. The amendment also establishes Slovakia's cultural and ethical sovereignty, potentially challenging EU human rights standards and provoking legal disputes. The Catholic Church in Slovakia has welcomed the reforms, viewing them as vital to preserving family, marriage, and societal values. However, the amendment has drawn criticism from human rights organizations like Amnesty International and the Council of Europe, which warn it marginalizes LGBTQ+ individuals and undermines international human rights obligations. Supporters argue the law reflects biological realities and common sense, emphasizing the rarity of intersex conditions as exceptions rather than a basis for expanding sex categories.