Minister of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations of the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, who is the Chairman of the National Human Rights Working Group as well, plans to discuss cyberbullying phenomena on an international conference. This is just one of the issues Monika Balatoni has discussed in Geneva right after she attended the German government’s official defense of children’s rights. András Dékány Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the UN and Dr. István Lakatos Ambassador for Human Rights participated in the negotiations too.

Monika Balatoni discussed the matters with Gianni Magazzeni, Head of Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Europe and America at the Hungarian Permanent Representation to the UN. At the meeting the Parties noted that the need to protect children against cyberbullying has to be strengthened, as well as major educational campaigns are needed to help parents and young people alike.

The Ministry of Public Administration and Justice takes cyberbullying as a priority issue, which demanded sacrifice even in Hungary as well, so the Minister of State said that it is necessary to discuss the problem on an international forum. The Ministry therefore intends to organize an international conference. Gianni Magazzeni pledged that his Office will examine the phenomenon of cyber bullying with its own experts and also to support the implementation of a Hungarian international conference on the subject in the future.

Monika Balatoni met with Dr. Ralf Kleindiek, the leader of the German delegation and Secretary of State for Social, Youth and Family Affairs, after attending the German government’s defense in front of Children’s Rights Commission. At the meeting it was agreed that bilateral relations are needed between the two countries regarding children’s rights and in particular the protection of child victims and the reintegration of child offenders into society.

A highlighted topic of the consultation was the phenomenon of cyber bullying and its diffusion, which is an important issue in Germany too. Both Ministers of State have agreed that the two countries regulate data protection more strictly than other EU countries and that a pan-European harmonization effort would be of great importance, which would compromise between tighter and lenient privacy control. The parties agreed that they will negotiate further with German Secretaries of State for Economy and Privacy in Berlin in the near future.

(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)