UN calls on Poland to enhance protection for LGBTQ people

A UN-mandated expert Friday urged Polish authorities to swiftly amend laws to protect LGBTQ people against discrimination and violence, lamenting the slow pace of reforms by the pro-EU government.

The Catholic country's main ruling party had pledged to legalise civil unions, but almost a year into its tenure, same-sex couples still cannot marry or register their partnerships.

Last month, Poland's government submitted a draft law to introduce civil unions, with public consultations on the bill currently under way.

"LGBT individuals are negatively affected by the lack of adequate protections," the UN independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Graeme Reid, said in a statement on Friday.

"I urge the authorities to adopt swift and decisive legislative reforms to bring Poland's laws and policies into conformity with international human rights standards," he added.

In December 2023, the European Court of Human Rights condemned Poland for having failed to recognise and protect same-sex couples.

The UN expert's call came after a mission to Poland during which he had met with LGBTQ people, government officials, and human rights groups.

Until 2023, Poland was ruled for eight years by the right-wing, socially conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, staunchly opposed to granting LGBTQ people more rights.

Its ally, the conservative President Andrzej Duda, was widely criticised during the election campaign for railing against what he called "LGBT ideology", likening it to communism.

"In the aftermath of eight years of state-sponsored hostile rhetoric and public policies directed against LGBT people, the mental health consequences have been alarming," Reid said.

The independent expert, who is appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but does not speak on behalf of the United Nations, will present a full report on his visit in June 2025.