The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary launched the annual Budapest Human Rights Forum in 2008, a series of international human rights conferences which provides the international community with the opportunity to exchange views in various domains of human rights.

The previous five editions of the Forum took place with the active participation of, and valuable contribution by, national and international human rights experts, representatives of international organizations, governments and the civil society.

Hungary is strongly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights trusting that these conferences contribute to the better understanding among actors of today’s world.

The previous five Forums have gained international and national recognition and the Budapest Human Rights Forum is considered as one of the most important annual conferences with human rights issues on its agenda.

In previous years the main topics of the Forums were the establishment of the International Centre for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities in Budapest, the human rights defenders in the world – remembering Raoul Wallenberg, human rights education and training, the freedom of expression and the freedom of internet, minority issues on the occasion of the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the rights of women and children, the right to water, the role of the UN Human Rights Council, the free movement of people as well as the importance of international election observation.

On 7 and 8 November 2013, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary is holding the sixth annual international Human Rights Forum in Budapest. This year’s agenda will include the themes of human rights and sustainable development, freedom of religion or belief, human rights and the media, and the protection of the human rights of the vulnerable groups.

Panels of the Sixth Budapest Human Rights Forum

The 1st Panel, Human Rights and Sustainable Development will focus on the human rights aspects of climate change, energy, water, economic development in connection with the sustainable development goals (SDG). It is worth mentioning that Hungary co-chairs the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals in New York.

The 2nd Panel will be devoted to the issue of Freedom of Religion or Belief. The freedom of religion and protection of religious minorities are of great importance to Hungary. Furthermore, presentation and exchange of views on the recently adopted EU guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief is also of relevance under this panel.

The 3rd Panel will address the theme of Human Rights and Media. Media, as the fourth branch of power, the world of blogs and reporters’ human rights will assumedly trigger a lively discussion. Freedom of the internet is also in the focal point of current deliberations on the issue.

The 4th Panel, Protection of vulnerable groups – human rights perspective gives the opportunity to exchange international experiences in the field of the protection of the rights of refugees, homeless people, women, children, people with disabilities and migrants from the point of view of the prohibition and elimination of discrimination.

For the full program please see the document attached.

Language of the conference: English.

Venue of the Forum: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Conference Hall
H-1027 Budapest, Bem rakpart 47.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)