Brussels, 27 January — A draft law in Ukraine is set to put the rights of LGBTQ+ people under serious pressure. Under the guise of reforming the civil code, the Ukrainian parliament plans to recognise relationships exclusively between a man and a woman. If adopted, same-sex marriages and partnerships would effectively be removed from the legal framework.
The proposed amendment contradicts earlier court rulings and runs counter to the values the European Union requires of candidate countries. Equal rights for LGBTQ+ people are a strict condition for EU membership. Should the law pass, Ukraine would not only take a step backwards on human rights, but also risk derailing its path towards Europe.
Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk has described the proposal as “modern and European,” while remaining silent on its impact on the LGBTQ+ community. The message is clear: LGBTQ+ rights risk being sacrificed without public acknowledgement.
At a time when Ukraine is presenting itself as a nation aligned with European values, this sends a troubling signal. Equality and human rights are not peripheral — they lie at the very heart of Europe.
