The parliament in Hungary voted on Dec 17 to allow same-sex couples to register their civil partnerships. Couples that register will be granted the same rights as married heterosexual couples in matters of inheritance, taxation and finances.
However, couples in same-sex civil partnerships will not be allowed to adopt children.
When the law, which is also open to heterosexual couples, takes effect in January 2009, Hungary will join the Czech Republic and Slovenia, fellow formerly communist countries in the region, in permitting the registration of same-sex civil partnerships.
Currently, full marriage rights for same-sex couples are available in five countries—Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, South Africa, and Spain–and in Massachusetts in the United States.
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