Thousands of pro-life advocates gathered in Freedom Square in Bratislava on Sunday, September 20, for Slovakia’s fifth National March for Life. Organized under the patronage of the Slovak Bishops’ Conference, the event featured public speeches, musical performances, and a large procession through the capital city. Church leaders and participants came together to advocate for the protection and dignity of human life across all stages, from conception to natural death.
Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Fr. Ivan Ružička, Secretary General of the Slovak Bishops’ Conference, emphasized that the march aims to pair legal protection for unborn children with concrete support for mothers and families in crisis. He stated that no woman should ever feel that abortion is her only available option, highlighting the Church’s ongoing effort to provide resources to those facing difficult circumstances.
A central focus of this year’s event was a call for a complete legislative ban on commercial and altruistic surrogacy. Organizers expressed concern over a proposal currently before the Slovak Parliament that would only ban specific forms of surrogacy, arguing that a child should never be subject to a contract and a woman’s body should not be commercialized. The campaign urges lawmakers to enforce a full constitutional prohibition on all surrogate motherhood agreements.