Mater Sempre Certa Est – Should We Register Transsexual Woman-to-Man as a Father? Remarks on the ECHR Judgment O.H. and G.H. v. Germany

Marica Pirošíková

Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica , Slovakia

Jitka Fialová

University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice , Czechia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9969-6455

Tomáš Zdechovský

University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice , Czechia


Abstract

The study is designed as an in-depth interdisciplinary report of the case O.H. and G.H. against Germany, which was analyzed by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (ECHR). The authors explain why the best interest of the child should prevail over the interests of a trans man, who gave birth to a child and requests to be registered as the father of the child. One of the reasons is mater semper certa est, a universally known principle of Roman law stating that “the mother is always certain” and no counterevidence can be made against this principle. In this regard, the best interest of the child and the child’s right to know his or her origin shall be observed. There are also several other life areas, that would be negatively impacted by breaking this principle.

Keywords:

best interest of child, ECHR, materninty, human rights, O.H. and G.H. against Germany

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Published
2024-03-28


Pirošíková, M., Fialová, J., & Zdechovský, T. (2024). Mater Sempre Certa Est – Should We Register Transsexual Woman-to-Man as a Father? Remarks on the ECHR Judgment O.H. and G.H. v. Germany. Review of European and Comparative Law, 56(1), 7–24. https://doi.org/10.31743/recl.15052

Marica Pirošíková 
Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica
Jitka Fialová  fiajit@post.cz
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9969-6455
Tomáš Zdechovský 
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice



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