Recognition of same-sex unions in Paraguay
Introduction  Paraguay does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions.
Unregistered cohabitation In August 2011, Itaipu Binacional, the company operating the Itaipu Dam, decided to recognize the same-sex partners of employees for the purpose of private health insurance benefits, if the couples were together for at least six months. An official working for the company said that the measure was for the sole purpose of including same-sex partners as beneficiaries of private health insurance for employees.
Civil unions Paraguay does not recognize civil unions. The Constitution of Paraguay recognizes ''de facto'' unions with similar legal rights to marriage, but only for opposite-sex couples. Article 51(2) of the Constitution states:
Same-sex marriage ===Background===In July 2010, following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Argentina, the LGBT organization SOMOSGAY announced its intention to advocate for a same-sex marriage bill in the Congress of Paraguay. Article 140 of the Paraguayan Civil Code expressly prohibits marriage between persons of the same sex.On 23 March 2012, LGBT activists Simón Cazal and Sergio López married in Argentina. The following year, they attempted to register their marriage in Paraguay. Their request was rejected, and they filed a legal challenge to have the marriage recognized. However, the lawsuit was dismissed on 4 April 2013, with the judge ruling that the Paraguayan Constitution did not recognize same-sex marriages.In May 2017, presidential candidate Santiago Peña of the ruling Colorado Party announced his support for same-sex marriage. He was criticised by many deputies, as well as President Horacio Cartes. In 2013, Cartes was quoted as saying that he would "shoot a bullet into his testicles were his son to express interest in marrying another man." While running for president in the April 2023 election, Peña expressed his opposition to same-sex marriage, as did his main opponent, Efraín Alegre.In March 2019, with 24 votes in favor, the Senate of Paraguay approved a draft declaration stating that it was "pro-life and pro-family", expressing opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion. The move was criticised by many lawmakers, who argued that the state is secular and cannot impose moral principles or values linked to religion.===Constitutional wording===Since 1992, the Constitution of Paraguay has limited marriage and the family to "one man and one woman". Article 51(1), entitled "Legal Marriages and the Effects of De Facto Unions", states:Article 52, entitled "Union in Marriage", states:===2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling===On 9 January 2018, in advisory opinion OC 24/7, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ruled that countries signatory to the American Convention on Human Rights are required to allow same-sex couples to marry. The ruling states that:Paraguay ratified the Convention on 24 August 1989 and recognized the court's jurisdiction on 11 March 1993.On 12 January 2018, SOMOSGAY announced its intention to file a petition with the Supreme Court of Justice to legalize same-sex marriage in Paraguay, citing the IACHR ruling. Meanwhile government officials reacted negatively to the ruling. In March 2018, Mario Abdo Benítez said he would veto any same-sex marriage bill passed by Congress if elected president in the April 2018 election, which he subsequently won. Some opponents of the IACHR ruling also falsely claimed that it does not apply to Paraguay.
Public opinion According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted between 26 November 2013 and 8 January 2014, 15% of Paraguayans supported same-sex marriage, while 81% were opposed.The 2017 AmericasBarometer found that 26% of Paraguayans supported same-sex marriage.
See also *LGBT rights in Paraguay*Recognition of same-sex unions in South America
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