Human rights are celebrated worldwide today in remembrance of the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights by the General Assembly of the United Nations 65 years ago. This year’s commemoration is marked also by the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights which fulfils a primary role in the international advancement of the protection of and respect for universal human rights.

Safeguarding human rights, including minority rights and fundamental freedoms constitutes one of the main pillars of the Hungarian foreign policy following this approach both in bilateral relations and international organisations in a thorough and consequent way. Hungary devotedly supports and promotes the efforts of the UN, the European Union, the Council of Europe and other international and regional organisations by all means at its disposal.

Hungary assumes a proactive role, among others, in stepping up international efforts aimed at protecting human rights defenders, combatting reprisals against persons cooperating with the UN, defending national and ethnic minority rights, promoting the human rights aspects of sustainable development.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to organise the annual Budapest Human Rights Forum which, since 2008, has been providing an opportunity and venue for international and national representatives of the civil society, academia and governments to exchange views and formulate proposals on the most important and current human rights issues.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)