Estonia - June 2023

Lawmakers in Estonia’s 101-seat parliament have approved amendments to the Family Act, with 55 votes in favour and 34 against, allowing for same-sex marriage. The country is now the first in Central Europe with such legislation. The law was pushed forward after the liberal coalition government led by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas took office in March. Although same-sex couples had won the right to enter into civil unions in 2014, the new law allows same-sex marriage and addresses legal loopholes that prevented same-sex couples from enjoying the same adoption and parental recognition rights as heterosexual couples. The new legislation will come into effect in 2024.

Sources: Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR), Politico, Al Jazeera, Human Rights Watch