Hungary has passed a law that effectively bans gay couples from adopting children, writing 'the mother is a woman, the father is a man' into its constitution.
MPs approved the new measures yesterday (Tuesday 15 December), and campaigners said the decision represented 'a dark day for Hungary's LGBTQ community'.
Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, said the change is being brought in to counter 'new ideological processes in the West' which mean the country should 'protect children against possible ideological or biological interference'.
The change means that children's sex is defined as that which is assigned to them at birth, with the government looking to ensure 'the upbringing of children according to Christian culture'.
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Amnesty International states that the changes are a breach of human rights.
A statement on the amendments reads: "The proposed provisions also contradict Hungary's international human rights obligations. Under international law, Hungary is obligated to respect the dignity of every individual without discrimination and their right to private and family life."
David Vig, Director of Amnesty Hungary, said: "This is a dark day for Hungary's LGBTQ community and a dark day for human rights.
"These discriminatory, homophobic and transphobic new laws - rushed through under the cover of the coronavirus pandemic - are just the latest attack on LGBTQ people by Hungarian authorities."
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The new law means that adoption to married couples is restricted, as part of the conservative PM's aim for traditional values.
Any exceptions, including single people wanting to adopt a child, will need to be approved on a case-by-case basis.
It comes after the government ramped up its strict, conservative views on LGBTQ rights. In October, Orban said that gay people should 'leave our children alone', when discussing a children's book that featured gay characters.
A ban was introduced in May that made it illegal for a person to change their sex observed at birth on official documents - a move that was criticised by rights groups for putting transgender Hungarians in danger of receiving discrimination.
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A government decree in 2018 stopped universities from teaching courses about gender.
Masen Davis, Executive Director at Transgender Europe said: "Earlier this year, Hungary made it impossible for trans people to change their names and legal gender marker. We are deeply concerned for the health and safety of trans children and adults in Hungary in such a hostile climate."
Just weeks ago, Jozsef Szajer, a Hungarian anti-LGBT MEP, resigned after being caught climbing out of a window naker when police raided an illegal gay sex party.
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