Romania condemned by ECHR for violating the rights of same-sex couples

The rainbow flag, emblem of the LGBT+ community. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

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Same-sex couples have had their country, Romania, condemned by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). She said on Tuesday, May 23, that by refusing to legally recognize their union, the country was violating their rights.

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In its ruling, the Strasbourg-based ECHR said on Tuesday - by five votes to two - that there had been a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, relating to the right to respect for private and family life.

Romania, where homosexuality was only decriminalized in the early 2000s, still does not allow same-sex marriage or civil unions.

Twenty-one same-sex couples had filed applications with the ECHR in 2019 and 2020. They explained that they had not been able to access many of the legal rights of married couples.

>> Read also: Poland: the European Commission puts pressure on the last "LGBT-free zones"

Recognition of same-sex unions

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None of the arguments put forward by the Government to justify the restriction of legal unions to heterosexual marriage alone can outweigh the applicants' interest in having their relationships recognised. " said the Court.

She also stressed that "allowing the recognition of same-sex unions would not undermine the institution of marriage since heterosexual couples can still marry."

The judicial arm of the Council of Europe recalled that member states are obliged to provide a legal framework allowing adequate recognition and protection of the relationship between same-sex couples and enjoy a certain latitude of appreciation as to the form of recognition and the type of protection granted.

>> READ ALSO: Namibia could soon recognize same-sex marriages concluded abroad

(

With AFP)

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  • Romania
  • European Union
  • LGBT+
  • Human rights
  • Society