On the occasion of Human Rights Day, honouring the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights by the UN General Assembly, Hungarian officials raised awareness to highlight the importance of human rights.

Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog spoke at a conference on human rights today in Hungary, organised by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. He emphasised that the state, which represents the highest form of human solidarity, must guarantee these rights. He also added that citizens should also take responsibility with regard to human rights and the state should assist them in doing so.

Officials from the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice held a press conference on this issue, pointing out that human rights begin in our immediate vicinity, at home, in school and at work. Minister of State for Social Relations Mónika Balatoni said that in these places every man, woman and child is entitled to equal rights, equal treatment and equal opportunities.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that safeguarding human rights, including minority rights and fundamental freedoms, constitutes one of the main pillars of Hungarian foreign policy, which adheres to this approach in a thorough and consequent manner both in bilateral relations and as a member of international organisations. The Ministry will also continue to organise the annual Budapest Human Rights Forum, which 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 since 2008.

(International Communications Office)