AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SLOVAKIA QUOTE
MAY 7, 2024
Fortunately, the National Council of the Slovak Republic did not move to the second reading of the proposal to amend Act No. 301/1995 Coll. on the birth number. Although, the fact that 23 of MPs supported the de facto impossibility of legal recognition, which has been legal in Slovakia for many decades, should be a warning sign.
“The fact that the proposal to amend the law on birth numbers did not pass to the second reading is good news. However, we consider the decision of some MPs and MEPs to vote in favor of the proposal to be a tragic display of quirkiness and ignorance. Transgender people are and always have been and always will be an integral part of our society, having the same needs, obligations, and rights as cisgender people. The state should ensure that they can fully exercise these rights. Living in harmony with one’s gender identity is not a privilege but a human right that Slovakia must protect.
Requiring transgender people to undergo a genetic test to confirm their gender identity would be contrary not only to modern science but also to international human rights law. We therefore consider the decision of the majority of MPs a good one. However, in rejecting this harmful law, it must not end there. The Slovak political scene must stop attacking LGBTI+ people. At the same time, we call on the Minister of Health to reinstate the expert documents that standardize medical transition procedures, including the Standard Procedure and the Professional Guideline, which cover medical transitions,” said Daniela Mužíková, Communications and Campaigns Coordinator at Amnesty International Slovakia.
Background
The birth number is a marker all citizens in Slovakia receive at birth. It includes information about the gender assigned at birth. The process of legal gender recognition is not at all easy. People in Slovakia can have their gender legally recognized after meeting legal conditions, including a psychiatric evaluation, undergoing hormone treatment, and other steps.
A person whose gender is legally recognized automatically receives a new birth number. It is impossible to change the gender on legal documents without changing the birth number. It is also impossible to have a name changed for one considered in disaccord with the gender of a person. (Example: If a person’s legally recognized gender is female, they will not be allowed to change their name to a male one and vice versa).
If these changes are not possible, transgender people will constantly face involuntary social coming-out and the associated risks of bullying, discrimination, and violence. The law would be effective immediately.