Poland is set to introduce new regulations banning anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech, as part of broader reforms to its hate crime laws. The Polish government has approved a draft plan to extend legal protections to include sexual orientation, gender, age, and disability.
Currently, Polish law criminalizes public insults based on national, ethnic, racial, or religious affiliation, with penalties of up to three years in prison. However, the Ministry of Justice acknowledged that these laws fail to safeguard all vulnerable groups from discrimination, prejudice, and violence.
The proposed changes aim to explicitly punish discrimination on additional grounds, ensuring comprehensive protection. In a statement, the ministry emphasized that the regulations seek to uphold Poland’s constitutional ban on discrimination and align with international standards for combating hate speech and hate crimes.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk endorsed the draft legislation on November 26. With the government holding a parliamentary majority, the reforms are expected to pass.
This move addresses long-standing concerns from the UN Human Rights Council, which had criticized Poland’s penal code for excluding disability, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity as hate crime categories.
The reforms follow significant political change in Poland, where last year’s landmark election saw the defeat of the right-wing government’s parliamentary majority. This shift has paved the way for a more inclusive approach to minority rights and protections.