The ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) requiring Romania to legalize same-sex civil unions could set a precedent for other countries with similar restrictions. It may encourage LGBTQ+ activists in those nations to pursue legal challenges and push for recognition of their relationships. The ECHR's decision sends a clear message that denying legal protections to same-sex couples violates human rights, which could embolden movements in other socially conservative countries to advocate for equality under the law.