Slovakia adopts constitutional amendment enshrining “two sexes”

Slovakia’s parliament has approved a constitutional amendment enshrining the existence of “two sexes,” restricting adoption rights, and tightening state control over education. Prime Minister Robert Fico celebrated the move as a “great dam against progressivism.” But human rights defenders warn this is not about protecting families, it is about dismantling democracy.

The amendment fits a global authoritarian playbook. From Donald Trump in the United States, to Vladimir Putin in Russia, to Viktor Orbán in Hungary, LGBTIQ+ communities are deliberately scapegoated as the first target in a broader project to weaken courts, silence civil society, and concentrate power. Slovakia is now the latest chapter in this story.

The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, in an urgent opinion published on 24 September, has raised alarm about the Slovak reform. It warns that vague references to “national identity” create serious risks of arbitrary interpretation and legal uncertainty, that the constitutional entrenchment of adoption restrictions could result in discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people, and that the enshrining of a binary definition of sex may legitimise discrimination against transgender, intersex and non-binary citizens. The Commission concluded that the amendments undermine human rights protections and risk placing Slovakia in conflict with its obligations under EU and international law.

Rémy Bonny, Executive Director of Forbidden Colours, said the message could not be clearer. “Robert Fico is turning Slovakia into Hungary and Russia 2.0. This is not a victory for families, it is a constitutional attack on democracy, and therefore all Slovakians, itself. We know this playbook: first target the LGBTIQ+ community, then erode the rule of law. The Venice Commission has been explicit that this reform threatens both human rights and Slovakia’s respect for European and international obligations.”

Bonny warned that the European Union must not remain silent. “If Brussels allows Slovakia to follow Hungary in dismantling democracy from within, the entire European project is at risk. The EU was founded on the promise of freedom, equality and dignity. That promise is now under attack in Bratislava.”

Forbidden Colours is urging the European Commission, the European Parliament, and Member States to take immediate action to defend Slovak democracy and the rights of its LGBTIQ+ citizens. “Europe must stand with those in Slovakia who believe in democracy and equality, not with those who are tearing it down,” Bonny said.