Poland - October 2024

On 19 October, the government introduced a bill that would provide for the legal recognition of same-sex partnerships. The legislation would allow unmarried adults to register a partnership with the registry office, providing greater legal protections for healthcare and inheritance, among other rights. The bill is an important step in view of the restrictions the LGBTQIA+ community suffered in Poland under the previous government, and represents a significant step in the government’s commitment to improving the rights of Poland’s LGBTQIA+ citizens. The bill is currently open to public consultation and will undergo ministerial review as a next step, after which the bill needs to be approved by Parliament and signed into law by the President. In December 2023, a European Court of Human Rights ruling found that Poland’s failure to recognize same-sex partnerships violates human rights and required the government to provide adequate recognition of same-sex relationships. 

Sources: International IDEA, Notes from Poland, Legislacja, Reuters 

On 15 October, the government adopted a migration strategy for 2025-2030 that makes it possible to temporarily suspend the right to seek asylum in the event of a national security threat. The strategy cites “organised and controlled” migration from Belarus and Russia to justify the measure. The decision was opposed by local and international NGOs, who argued that it contravenes EU law and Poland’s obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention to uphold the fundamental right to seek asylum. The strategy also outlines reforms designed to strengthen the impartiality of consular officers issuing visas, addressing irregularities in the visa system that occurred under the previous government. Additionally, the strategy proposes new requirements for accessing the labour market, including making work permits contingent on an employment contract and increasing penalties for the illegal employment of foreign nationals. 

Sources: European Council on Refugees and Exiles, Government of Poland, International IDEA, Amnesty International, Notes from Poland, Onet, Euronews