Slovakia's parliament approves constitutional changes to protect traditional values

The Slovak parliament on Friday adopted amendments to the constitution that define the existence of only two genders – male and female – and regulate the issue of adoption.

This was reported by the Slovak agency TASR.

Of the 99 deputies present, 90 voted “for”, 7 voted against, and 2 abstained.

The adopted norms, in particular, regulate the issue of child adoption and the educational process. According to the initiators of the changes, the goal is to strengthen Slovakia’s sovereignty in matters of values and the cultural and ethical sphere.

“Strengthening the protection of traditional values is key to preserving the cultural heritage of the Slovak Republic and ensuring legal stability. The constitutional amendment responds to the need to protect cultural heritage, enshrined in the preamble to the Constitution of Slovakia, in particular in recognizing marriage between a man and a woman as a unique union,” the approved government proposal states.

The changes expand the constitutional regulation of social rights, in particular the status of the family and the consolidation of parental rights.

They are taking into account a joint initiative of the ruling coalition, the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and MPs from the Christian Union, adopted back in June. From now on, the constitution will include a ban on surrogacy and the right of a child to know its parents, with a direct indication that the mother is a woman and the father is a man.

The changes also define gender based on biological criteria and strengthen parental rights within the school system.

Just before the planned vote, the Venice Commission published a critical assessment of the amendments , in particular regarding restrictions on adoption and the establishment of two articles.