The European Court of Human Rights keeps Poland in line with LGBT rights

The European Court of Human Rights (Credit: Marcella Bona/flickr)

The European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights welcomed a recent decision by the European Court of Human Rights. The court in Strasbourg ruled that Poland was wrong to deny de facto same-sex couples the rights afforded to their heterosexual counterparts.

Michael Cashman MEP, Co-president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights, commented: “This is a reminder that all Member States are signatories to the European Convention of Human Rights, and that they must abide by their obligations. The human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are of equal importance, and should be fully respected.”

Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-president of the Intergroup on LGBT Rights, continued: “Polish authorities and courts should have learnt a lesson with Karner v. Austria in 2003, when the same Court found Austria breached the European Convention of Human Rights through its lack of recognition of same-sex couples in application of tenancy laws. I hope Polish authorities will hear the message of the Court and abide by the European Convention of Human Rights.”

All European Union Member States are signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights. The European Court of Human Rights has yet to conclusively examine several cases related to LGBT people’s human rights submitted in the last few years.