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Intervention by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay on Sexual Violence in Conflict at the open debate of the Security Council, held on 15 April 2015.

Your Excellency, Mme President,
Honorable members of the Security Council, Dear Colleagues,

I take a stand against the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war,
I fully support and have joined “ GET CROSS! “,
the global campaign with my crossed arms!

Mme President,

I wish to thank you, and Jordan for initiating “the old monster of humanity” as the topic of today open debate. I also wish to thank Zainab Hawa Bangura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and and you Ms Hamsatu Allamin of Nigeria for sharing so openly all these personal account.

Hungary of course fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.

I said “old monster”, because women and girls have always been particularly vulnerable victims during armed conflicts, but in modern history sexual violence is often used as a weapon of war, in order to demoralize women themselves, or the community they belong to. Sexual and gender-based violence also rarely cease at the end of hostilities, and continue well into the ‘post-conflict’ phase.

We just know too well from history that sexual violence is often used by people with guns and power as a multi-faceted strategy to terrorize populations, displace communities, to humiliate women, children and men and destroy their human dignity for the rest of their lives.

These crimes are serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and represent one of the cruelest forms of discrimination against women which the international community must not tolerate. In this context Hungary firmly supports the international efforts aimed at eliminating all forms of sexual violence in conflicts.

In this spirit, high-level Hungarian delegation participated at the Global Summit “End Sexual Violence in Conflict” held in London last June. The Hungarian Government joined the “Call to Action to End Violence against Women and Girls in Emergencies” and the “Girl Summit Charter on Ending FGM and Child, Early and forced Marriage”.

Honorable members of the Security Council,

We are deeply troubled by the harrowing accounts of sexual violence described in the report of the Secretary-General used as a tactic of war.

Sexual violence remains chronically underreported as a result of fear and stigmatization.

We support the urge of recognition that sexual violence can not only be employed as a tactic of war but as a tactic of terror. We would like to see more official women pecakeepers and women peacemakers strengthening and helping communication in the field.

Excellencies,dear Collegues,

Armed conflicts today have been increasingly characterized by extremist ideologies and ethnic or religious divisions which presents a new challenge for the international community.

Hungary is particularly concerned by ISIL’s targeting of women and girls especially the ones who are belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, Christians, Yazidis and women of other faith.

Also: the use of sexual violence as a form of persecution to forcibly displace populations is particularly worrisome. Displaced and refugee girls face particular risks and are more vulnerable to sexual abuse as is witnessed in refugee camps. A recent UN inter-agency report revealed that the rates of early marriage are on the rise in refugee camps which also puts girls at a higher risk of sexual abuse.

As today we agree with the Secretary General’s recommendation that effective counter terrorism strategies need to address the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terror and be adapted accordingly.

Mme President,

We firmly believe that these crimes must be prosecuted and punished under national and international law but, regrettably, impunity for perpetrators continues to be a major challenge. We support the efforts of the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence aimed at assisting national authorities in criminal investigation and prosecutions, the collection and preservation of evidence, and criminal law reform.

The Declaration of Commitment to End to Sexual Violence in Conflict, endorsed by 144 Member States, including Hungary, in September 2013, is an important achievement in raising awareness and bringing an end to the silence surrounding this atrocious crime.

It is now imperative that the international community lives up to its political commitment by concrete and measurable actions.

Thank you, Mme President.

GET CROSS!

H.E. Katalin Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations introducing János Pásztor, newly-appointed UN Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Change on 9 April 2015 in the event at Waterfall Mansion.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

“Crisis” is probably the most frequently heard word in the media, describing the state of economic, social, political and environmental affairs today. And although the history of human civilization is replete with cataclysmic changes, at no point have the challenges that we face today been as global, as complex, and as interconnected as at the current moment.

Climate change, the large-scale and irreversible impact of human civilization on the planet earth, an overconsumption of natural resources, and their respective consequences are already affecting millions of people – entire nations and countries. These threats are indeed existential – civilizations have disappeared in the past and it is entirely up to us to make sure not to follow the same fate.

In post-industrial societies, and especially in the cities, people lead lifestyles that do not recognize the relationship with the rest of nature. We have become dependent on the promises and expectations of modern technological innovation that further promotes our self-centered, individualistic outlook on life, and have distanced ourselves from nature.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The point I make is that to address adequately the major global problems we have today, such as climate change, chronic underdevelopment and inequalities, the very idea of how we relate to nature must be transformed.

I refuse to believe in apocalyptic scenarios, and have optimism in the human potential to mend its mistakes and to come up with creative solutions for the survival of the human spirit. History does not predetermine the future, and we need not be submissive to it. We need to learn from it, and continuously try to mold its course towards peaceful and prosperous future. For that we need thinkers with vision and will, and knowledge.

And also for that we need to activate our children. The deep-seated and long-awaited changes for our planet will come to fruition through our youth. Their immediate participation as decision-makers and actors in the transformation of society to preserve mother earth is urgent. Youth throughout the world needs to stand up and actively engage in order to build a sustainable future.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The United Nations cannot effectively address these issues alone, global partnerships between governments, civil society and private sector are essential to mobilize the required thinking power and resources.

Hungary has long been committed, in words and in action, to promoting peace through scientific cooperation. Just think on the Budapest World Science Forum or the many summits my country has masterminded.

Hungary has played an active role in the negotiations of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, and is willing to continue to do so during the finalization and adoption of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda and in its implementation as well.

Excellencies,

In this spirit, we are very honored that a fellow Hungarian has been appointed to spearhead efforts against climate change. “Someone with this secret language, the “Magyar”!, as the Secretary General told me.

He is a national of Hungary (and later also of Switzerland), he received his MS and BS degrees at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He studied nuclear physics first, but the who knows, probably because he has seen the lights and colours of Africa as a little boy he has turned his directions towards environment.

János started his long and challenging journey outside Hungary young when his father was posted in Kenya, Africa working as a priest.

One says if you leave once your homeland you are on your way all your life. János has lived and worked since then in Gland, Geneva, New York, Boston, Stockholm and Nairobi just to name a few.

Has lead programs and institutions for Conservation, Global Sustainability, Environment, Development, Climate Change, Energy, Global governance.

Mr Pásztor’s career of over 30 years also includes service with various NGOs.

Janos' assignments included work with the World Council of Churches (WCC), the World Commission on Environment and Development (the "Brundtland Commission"), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, or the "Earth Summit '92"). During the period 1993-2006 he worked at the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in various positions. Before joining the office of the UN Secretary-General in New York in 2008, he was director of the UN Environment Management Group (EMG) in Geneva. And of course until the end of last year he was Director of World Wilde Fund for Nature International.

So, he has actually returned to the United Nations system where he has proven his expertise and absolute commitment in numerous senior positions previously. Therefore, it is my conviction that, ahead of the crucial conference at the end of this year in Paris, the process is in very good hands.

We are very proud of you and let me wish you courage, enough time, good health, stamina, and enjoy the ride!

Introduction by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay in her capacity as Chair of Panel Discussion one: Comprehensive Review of the ’Water for Life’ Decade, held on 30 March 2015.

Your Excellencies,

In my introduction I would like to touch upon the topic of science diplomacy. Today, the international community turns to scientists for answers to some of the most pressing social, economic and environmental problems that transcend national boundaries. Whether it is the urgent task of halting climate change, an acute need to provide basic health care for large parts of the world’s population, or the shared responsibility to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, the science of the twenty-first century is expected to point to the effective solutions.

Science, driven by the curiosity of human beings to know the universe and to understand their place in it, is spreading new knowledge rapidly around the globe to sustain cutting-edge research conducted at universities, laboratories and academies of sciences scattered around the world. Improved access to new information communication technology has brought scientists working in distant corners of the earth closer together.

Francis Bacon predicted accurately the rise of modern science as early as in the beginning of the seventeenth century, proclaiming that “If we begin with certainties, we will end in doubts, but if we begin with doubts and hear them patiently, we may end in certainty.” In the centuries since his prophesy, science has empowered us to be the masters of our own destiny, rather than mere players in the grand spectacle animated by divine forces. With the advent of science, destiny was no longer a predetermined fate, but a continuing experiment which taught us lessons from our mistakes. And with the immense power of science came an equally great ethical responsibility to “do no harm.”

For me, science diplomacy is the gravitational force that manifests itself through relations between people and communities. It is stronger than, and will eventually prevail over, the forces of division and conflict.

The power of scientific cooperation has for many decades brought together peoples from different countries and continents, has defined common values and aspirations across national boundaries, and has created conditions for durable peace to flourish. For me, the Budapest World Science Forum, which event Hungary has been organizing since 1999, always represented a small example of what the international relations will look like in the future, when we will reach a level of consciousness where the threat or use of military might or economic coercion will simply be unthinkable, and where culture of peace and mutual respect will guide the global pursuit of scientific progress. My country, Hungary, has long been committed, in words and in action, to promoting peace through scientific cooperation.

I would like to stress the importance of cooperation. We believe that we have to achieve that success in close cooperation with governments, the UN, business and civil society. Water Cooperation needs the contribution and collaboration of all. Science, among others, plays a major role.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

During the ‘Water for Life’ Decade, significant progress was achieved in promoting access to water and sanitation and fostering cooperation on water issues.

Nevertheless, and also in order to achieve a successful and sustainable international agenda, we shall emphasize that drinking water supply and sanitation should be fully integrated into water resources management policies with the recognition that water use and sanitation not only consume the resources, but also pollute water and, therefore, negatively influence the water cycle as a whole, if countermeasures are not applied.

Also, hygiene is often overlooked in the water and sanitation discourse. It is therefore important to identify realistic, monitorable and enforceable approaches that improve hygiene, especially for women and adolescent girls. As you all know, the Decade has strived to promote greater focus on the participation of women in water-related development efforts.

Significant steps have been made during the past ten years, and yet, significant obstacles remain to realize the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. Today, 800 million people are without access to an improved water source and many more remain without safe and sustainable water supply. In addition, disparities continue to exist between and within countries. Also, access to sanitation is today the most lagging of the MDGs with 2.5 billion people without improved sanitation and 1.1 billion still practicing open defecation.

So, Distinguished participants,

In our morning session, with the assistance of our distinguished Keynote Speaker and Panellists, we shall identify some key responses to the following questions:

· What are the major achievements of the ‘Water for Life Decade? What are the remaining obstacles for achieving universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation services, and what do we still need to do in order to make further progress?

· What factors lie behind the increase in safe drinking water and sanitation access achieved during the Decade?

· How has the recognition of the human right to water and sanitation contributed to promotion of the MDG targets?

·  Why involving women in decision making at all levels is crucial for ensuring access and sustainable management of water and sanitation? 

·  When the General Assembly declared the International Year of Water Cooperation, it recognized that “cooperation is essential in order to strike a balance between the different needs and priorities” related to water. In that regard, what conditions and measures can facilitate transboundary cooperation?

Statement delivered by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay on “Children and armed conflict: Children victims of non-State armed groups" at the open debate of the Security Council, held on 25 March 2015.

Your Excellency, Mr. President,

Honorable members of the Security Council,

In all cultures, one of the most important factors is the cohesion of the family and community, and the degree of nurture and support that children receive. Indeed, one of the most significant war traumas of all, particularly for younger children, is simply separation from parents.

It is universally true that horrific experiences are so deeply disturbing, so overwhelming, that a child will try to suppress bad memories rather than confront them.

And the trauma of exposure to violence and brutal death has emotionally affected generations of young people for the rest of their lives.Time does not heal trauma. A child must be helped to express suffering and to confront bad memories, with the support and guidance of an informed and knowledgeable adult. The very act of talking or writing about, or even acting out traumatic events is a way for a child to begin healing and start on the road to recovery.

I wish to particularly thank Junior Nitza for sharing his personal experience in his briefing.

Hungary aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.

I wish to thank France and personally you, Mr. President, for convening this open debate. I also wish to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Leila Zerrougui, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF Yoka Brandt and the representatives of civil society for their informative briefings.

We welcome the focus of today’s debate on non-State armed groups who make up the vast majority of perpetrators listed in the Secretary-General’s reports on children and armed conflict.

2014 has been the worst year for children in many years as the proliferation of conflicts around the world affected tens of millions of children.

Mr. President,

Impunity continues to be deeply entrenched and most perpetrators are never held accountable for the war crimes they committed.  The wave of violence committed by extremist armed groups has further complicated the challenge of holding perpetrators accountable for the grave violations of children’s rights, due to the lack of rule of law in areas under their control.

Despite these serious challenges, the decision of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court in December last year is an important milestone as it confirmed the verdict against Thomas Lubanga, who became the first person to be convicted for the enlistment, conscription and use in hostilities of children. We share the ICC Prosecutor’s view that this decision stands as a symbol of hope and an important step towards bringing an end to the suffering of children who are still forced to fight, kill and die in armed conflicts.

Hungary fully supports the campaign “Children, Not Soldiers”, launched by the Special Representative and UNICEF last year, and we are encouraged by the momentum it gained in the short period since its launch. We urge the Special Representative to continue to engage with all stakeholders to successfully end the recruitment and use of children by government forces by the end of 2016.

Mr. President, Your Excellencies,

Children have, of course, always been caught up in warfare. They usually have little choice but to experience, at minimum, the same horrors as their parents—as casualties or even combatants.

In these violent circumstances girls in particular suffer the added trauma of sexual abuse and rape, which psychologists identify as the most intrusive of traumatic events. Sexual violence is particularly common in ethnic conflicts. Rape has been systematically used as a weapon of ethnic cleansing to destroy community ties. Even  girls who are not physically forced to have sex may still be obliged to trade sexual favours for food, shelter or physical protection for themselves .

Girls often face greater risk of forced abduction, sexual slavery and forced marriage. Sexual violence is increasingly used by extremist groups to terrorize populations. The primary targets of these horrendous crimes were often girls belonging to religious minorities, including Christians, Yazidis and other faiths.

Mr. President,

What is also very frightening nowadays is the escalation in the use of children as fighters. Extremist groups like ISIL successfully manipulate young boys and girls and we must find the ways to counter the propaganda used by terrorist groups to recruit susceptible children and youth. 

Mr. President,

Hungary is of the view that education is one of the most powerful weapons against discrimination and inequality and the cornerstone of lasting peace. In this context, we are deeply concerned that attacks on schools and hospitals have become a common feature in most armed conflicts, putting children at peril and impeding their access to education and health services. Attacks on schools and attempts by extremist groups to exclude girls or minorities from education continue undermine the right to education of children affected by conflict. The increasing use of schools for military purposes is of particular concern as they put more children out of schools and subsequently at increased risk of violence.

The world was shocked last year by the brutal abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls by Boko Haram from their schools in northeastern Nigeria. We must continue to raise our voice against these heinous crimes and call for the immediate release of the schoolgirls.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Remarks by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay on “Women in Conflict and Post Conflict Situations” at the U.S. Federation for Middle East Peace, held in New York, on 10 March 2015.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

"Peace is Action, Not Words."

Betty Williams, Northern Ireland, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 1977

Each century has its defining moral issue. If slavery was the towering moral issue of the 19th century, the fight against totalitarianism dominated the 20th century. The rights of women and the struggle to uphold them in every corner of the world will be the moral imperative of the 21st century.

We are all born peacemakers

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The cause of empowering women to take leading roles in the positive social transformations towards peace and sustainable development is especially close to my heart.

The innate horror of the idea to lose our sons in a war or have our daughters widowed motivates us to look for new and positive ways to bridge the differences, to find mutually acceptable situations and arrive to win-win solutions.

Time and again, determined not to see their country slide back into conflict, women have proven their tremendous potential to foster peace, nurture reconciliation and contribute to sustainable development of their communities. And yet, the potential contribution of women to peace and security remains severely undervalued.

According to available data on recent peace negotiations, women - despite of having contributed in many informal ways to conflict resolution - represented only fewer than 8% of participants to peace negotiations and fewer than 3% of signatories of peace treaties. I would like to see women appointed chief or lead mediators in UN- sponsored peace talks. Their exclusion invariably leads to the failure of adequately addressing women's concerns in the context of peace and reconciliation. We should do more to harness women's potential for reconciliation at the highest levels of governance.

The inclusion of women in peace talks is not only a basic democratic right, but is also essential to building sustainable peace. By letting half of the population's voice being unheard, it is impossible to build societies based on inclusion and justice.

Fortunately, the international community is putting more and more emphasis on the need to include women representatives in peace-making processes, like the examples of establishing quotas for women at the negotiation tables in Afghanistan, Yemen or Libya show. Yet, more needs to be done in this regard, and we should not let women's voices to be lost after the signature of peace treaties either.

Leadership is often defined within the sphere of politics, but many women are already very active in civil society and are engaged in peacebuilding, driving reconciliation, and preventing conflicts at the community level. Building on this, the international community must more to support these local movements, encourage women to take up leading roles and create space for them to engage in politics at all levels.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We should not neglect the enormous potential that women hold to foster peace and reconciliation, and think of the ways in which we, the United Nations, can empower them to realize this potential for the betterment of humanity.

The answer is innovation and education

For me, the answer lies in innovation; innovation in thinking, innovation in changing attitudes, innovation in acting to rectify gender imbalances.

We cannot underestimate the important role education plays for women and girls affected by armed conflict. First and foremost, education provides girls with the tools to protect themselves from gender-based violence. Improving girls' access to education is also one of the key tools to prevent child marriage. By providing unhindered access to education and development of skills, women and girls are better equipped to participate in conflict prevention and post-conflict peacebuilding.

As Malala Yousafzai so eloquently put it: "Let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons."

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As Hungary's Permanent Representative, I must add that Hungary strongly recognizes and values the power and unique skills of women in peace and development. Empowering women by investing in their education, strengthening their leadership capacities, as well as engaging them in decision-making are in each society's best interest. This is especially relevant in places where peace has broken down and conflict has shifted focus away from cooperation towards division and hatred. Rather than seeing women as victims of armed conflicts, more has to be done to promote their full and equal participation in all stages of peace processes.

For the above reasons, the Hungarian Government congratulates the Secretary- General for choosing the empowerment of women and children as one of his priorities for 2015.

Violent extremism is a shocking fact

In his latest annual report, the Secretary General gave a detailed account of the horrific crimes committed by ISIL, including reports of rape, mass abduction, forced marriage, forced prostitution and stoning of women for alleged adultery. The primary targets of these horrendous crimes were women and girls belonging to religious minorities, including Christians, Yazidis and other faiths.

According to the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, ISIS believes in the subordinate role of women in society. They tell women what to wear, how to act, who to marry. They even set up the so-called Al-Hisbah morality police, as well as the all-female brigade, Al-Khans'aa for monitoring adherence to dress codes and enforcing punishments. ISIS has executed women for unapproved contact with the opposite sex. Just like in the Middle Ages, they stoned them to death. They beheaded a female dentist, Dayr Az-Zawr, only because she continued to treat patients of both sexes.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Even more shocking for me is that, although we rarely talk about it, women may also be active supporters of radical ideologies. In practice, we see more and more evidence proving that women support terrorism by maintaining safe houses, by gathering intelligence, or even by committing suicide bombing.

According to some studies, the percentage of women and girls in separatist groups is already around 30-40%. Terrorist groups like ISIL successfully manipulate women and young girls too. Therefore, in my opinion, counter terrorism policies and measures will be effective only if they also take into account these gender sensitive factors. The evil is taking over the soul of women too. Now, this is real extremism for me.

Women play a significant role in the political changes

Women are often seen solely as the victims of violent conflicts, but this picture is misleading: women play an indispensable role in solving conflicts and ensuring lasting peace when they are organized as part of the civil society.

Women can play positive preventative roles during conflict situations - let us just think about their efforts to protect their families from turning to radicalization and the use of violence - and act as agents of peace and dialogue in post-conflict situations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

During the days of CSW, we are celebrating women. Let this be an occasion when women of all continents and all countries, regardless of the national boundaries and the ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together, look back and celebrate the history of their heroic struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

And let us use this opportunity to send a message to hundreds of millions of women and girls whose voices and hopes are currently unheard that we will do everything possible to ensure their bright future - future in which they can aim high and realize their dreams.

It is an imperative to talk clearly and loudly about the vulnerability of women in conflict zones and the need for a much stronger role of women in conflict prevention and resolution.

Thank you for your attention.

Intervention by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay on “Maintenance of International Peace and security: Reflect on History, Reaffirm the Strong Commitment to the Purposes and Principles of the Charter of the United Nations” at the open debate of the Security Council, held on 23 February 2015.

Your Excellency, Mr. President,
Honourable Ministers, Members of the Security Council,

Hungary wishes to thank China for convening this highly appropriate open debate of the Security Council because we cannot pledge enough our commitment to the principles of the UN Charter.

It is my privilege to take the floor for the very first time in this Chamber as the new Permanent Representative of Hungary.

Talking in tune has always been my aim throughout my professional life. Talking with dignity to each other even when our differences held sway is my main preoccupation in the turbulent moments. Indeed, differences are at times pronounced in our opinions and visions, and the spirit of consensus is difficult to bring to bear on some issues.

But I would still argue that we should handle our political differences through constant dialogue; through the art of listening, and responding in order to at least try not to misunderstand each other.

“Dialogos” is a Greek compound-word widely mistranslated and wrongly understood because of confusion between “duo” and “dia”. It does not mean a conversation between two people or two groups, but an acceptance, by two participants or more, that they will compare and contrast their respective arguments to the very end. Dialogue is accordingly a perilous enterprise, for it implies a risk that either participant may find his or her argument transformed, and thus their very identity put to the test.

To me, the UN has been created for dialogue. To me, the UN has to act on the highest possible level of dialogue.

You will agree with me that we have to renew our commitment to understanding and tolerating each other’s cultural background and identity, keeping in our hearts and minds the verses of Jalal al-Din Rumi, the great 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and philosopher:

“Half of me comes from here, half from everywhere.

Half of me comes from the pearls of the sea, half from distant shores.”

We, people of the world, are connected to each other globally, and today our interdependence is greater than ever. So we have to consciously protect our sensitive peace together and we have to act against the evil together for the betterment of the future of our children.

Mr. President,

We fully support the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and that of the ACT group.

The founding mothers and fathers of the UN and its organs, including the Security Council, wanted to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” but also wanted to achieve more: human rights, rule of law, development. And as Nelson Mandela said, there is no peace without development and no development without peace. None of these can be achieved without teaching our children in young age to respect and celebrate the diversity of the human race. Only then will grown-ups respect state sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful settlement of international disputes.

We have seen an amazing evolution of humanity since the end of the Second World War. We should never forget the immense development in the political arena. And we should be proud of that. The UN has undeniably had its success stories. It stabilized the security situation during a bipolar world and in many cases served as the most important, sometimes last hope in the international platform of Member States to overcome their differences. 

Only, the world has been changing!

Only, people do not seem to remember why UN had to be set up 70 years ago!

Conflicts, bloodshed and human suffering are ongoing. Religious and ethnic minorities are again threatened, people are beheaded because of their religion, nationality and beliefs? Are we back in time?

Only, people do not go to the main square in their town to watch executions or to the arena to see brutality. No, we just switch on the television.

Mr. President,

The world needs new enlightenment. The UN could play the leading role in creating it.

Today, the world is in turmoil despite a never busier Security Council.

Somehow, we do not seem to learn enough from our sins and mistakes, our greediness and selfishness. And the Security Council and the international community seem to be paralyzed in many of these situations. But history already has shown us that failure to act will only prolong human suffering, invite further atrocities and that we will pay a high price for our inaction in the form of lost lives, lost generations, lost hopes, and lost futures.

Our incapacity to live up to the challenges we face also undermines the trust and belief that people around the world have in the UN. They see this world organization more and more distant and detached from reality.

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them", as Einstein put it.

Based on the lessons learned and (re)united by our common values we must be open to new ideas in order to effectively implement the principles of the UN Charter.

Thank you.

Intervention by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay on Ethnic and Cultural Dimensions of Disasters and Emergencies at the Alliance of Civilisations Group of Friends Meeting, held on 18 February 2015.

Your Excellencies,


High Representative, Mr. Al-Nasser, 
Under-Secretary-General Amos,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For me, a humanitarian approach is the one that measures every action against the values of human rights and freedoms; values of peaceful coexistence, tolerance and rejection of violence; values of equality, non-discrimination, and non-stigmatization. These are the values of democracies, of inclusive societies, where all groups or individuals have equal opportunities of meaningful engagement in the lives of their communities.

These values form a cornerstone of human dignity, and drive the progress of our civilization. And it is precisely when these values are ignored, violated or suppressed that the seeming progress in various areas of human activity does not lead to a general human welfare, and may very well undermine it.

I truly believe, that to address adequately the major global problems that confront us today, we need to start from promoting and reinforcing the right type of values, and redefining the very idea of how we relate to each other and to the environment in which we live in.

Mr. Chair,

There is a strong call for reaffirming the basic humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. Humanitarian action based on these principles is the manifestation of solidarity with the vulnerable and the respect of human dignity - grounds that are common to all cultures and religions and thus unite all of us. We should together strive to uphold and observe these universal values in the hardest contexts, including armed conflicts, and ensure greater respect of international humanitarian action and international humanitarian law by all actors involved.

During conflicts and emergencies, minorities are at the greatest risk and the international community must take all necessary measures to protect members of religious and ethnic minorities in the framework of humanitarian assistance. We must ensure that minorities, whether internally displaced or refugees, have access to humanitarian aid and relief such as food, shelter and health care. The protection of minorities also includes the need to respect their religious and cultural heritage, including during humanitarian crises, which is essential to preserve their identity.

Hungary believes that events such as those taking place today in Northern Iraq, Syria, or the brutal killing of the 21 Egyptian Christians kidnapped in Libya few days ago, should serve as wake-up call for the international community and mobilize action for the protection of vulnerable populations.

Mr. Chair,

By bringing together governments, humanitarian organizations, people affected by humanitarian crises and new partners including the private sector to propose solutions to our most pressing humanitarian challenges, the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul and the consultation process leading up to it is an excellent example of dialogue among different actors and regions. The Summit must be a call for humanity and make humanitarian action more effective and accountable.

Hungary has always aimed to contribute to international humanitarian action to the fullest extent allowed by its economic and financial circumstances. We were pleased to recently host the World Humanitarian Summit regional consultation for the ‘Europe and Others’ group in Budapest that was co- chaired by the Governments of Hungary and Finland, DG ECHO (European Commission Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection) and OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs).

In the spirit of the Summit’s multi-stakeholder approach, the consultation brought together some 250 participants from different fields. The rich discussions in sub-groups around the four themes of the Summit (humanitarian effectiveness, reducing vulnerability and managing risk, transformation through innovation, and serving the needs of people in conflict) led to a series of important conclusions and recommendations

The participants of the Budapest consultations also strongly voiced the need to forge new partnerships among different actors and establish, wherever possible, stronger cooperation mechanisms at the international, national and local levels. Relying on the existing local and cultural knowledge of different actors and enabling different systems and sectors to work together with the shared understanding and commitment to principled humanitarian action, is the key to stepping up more effectively together. We should encourage new and innovative ways of strengthening this cooperation.

Mr. Chair,

In this spirit, Hungary will continue to work together with all partners. We look forward to making the World Humanitarian Summit a success that in a way should also reinforce bonds between civilizations.

Thank you.

Intervention by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay at the "Inter-governmental negotiations on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters" held in New York, on 11 February 2015.

Mr. Chairman,

Since this is the first time I am taking the floor let me congratulate you on your assumption of this prestigious post and pledge the Support of Hungary throughout the process.

We hope to enter into a new phase of negotiations and find common solutions.

Einstein is always an inspiring start: "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

We believe in dialogue, we are open to creative ideas that could achieve a good outcome. But lack of agreement can no longer be used as justification for repeating what has been done in the last six years.

My mission’s proposal is the following:

Let us create an outcome-driven approach and a step-by-step process. The outcome of the IGN should be a document, a report, or a draft GA resolution.

From the legal perspective, we clearly need an amendment of the Charter to achieve Security Council reform. The IGN may also want to put forward proposals on the five key elements that do not need Charter Amendment, including, but not limited to, working methods.

We think that a draft text that contains the proposed Charter amendments and other proposals is what we need to enter text-based negotiations as proposed by countries and, for the first time last November, by the President of the General Assembly.

On the step-by-step process, first, we need a proposal on our calendar of meetings. We suggest at least one meeting every month until June. 

We also need a work program, which is driven by the structure of the outcome document:

•    We can quickly come up with the indicative list of the Articles of the Charter to be amended. Next step would be to produce language proposals on those Articles that incorporate the various ideas. This could become the basis for substantive negotiations.

•    By identifying the main themes first, we can start working on the proposals on the five elements that do not need Charter Amendment. This will also need a draft text.

•    Then can we narrow down differences and reduce the number of outstanding issues. 
 

Mr Chairman, 
we also propose a change in our rigid rules of engagement. 
The Chair must have the responsibility to lead us with his proposals, be it on calendar of meetings, on work program, and on draft texts. This does not take away the Member State driven nature of the process. 
We can decide on a working method that gives Member States the opportunity to convey to the chair their textual proposals for compilation. It also remains our responsibility to accept or modify the draft proposals and decide on the outcome. 
Mr. Chairman, 
As I said we are open to real dialogue. 
But we cannot continue “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Intervention by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay on the Role of Parliaments, Cities and Local Authorities in the implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda at a Thematic Debate held in New York, on 10 February 2015.

Mr. President,

Just a short while ago, last December during my parliamentary hearing before coming to the UN I had to speak in the beautiful House of Parliament in Budapest to its members. I spoke about my plans, focuses and priorities as a new Permanent Representative of my country and of course about the aims, current tasks of the UN. And I of course, introduced the Post- 2015 Development Agenda. Honestly the honorable members of the House knew or heard very little about this grandiose program. I call it grandiose because it is very ambitious, and if successful, and if we will implement it well, there is a chance for humanity to survive, because as the effects of climate change worsen, escaping poverty becomes more difficult.

Mr. President,

In Hungary actually the Fundamental Law endorses the need to co-operate with all the peoples and countries of the world for achieving sustainable development of humanity. It also creates the obligation to protect and maintain natural resources as well as cultural assets forming the common heritage of the nation, and to preserve them for future generations.

Betty Williams, the Nobel peace prize laureate from Northern- Ireland said once to me: Peace is action, not words! The Post- 2015 agenda should be a global and coordinated action, not words! For that we need conscious, well prepared parliamentarians, politicians, real statesmen who will not only realize the long-term danger but act accordingly.

We all have to face it that the implementation of the post 2015 agenda will rest with the Member States. Furthermore, relevant policies will have to be reflected in legislation, as it is also the case in the creation enabling legal and economic environment necessary for FDI and the mobilization of other resources. The importance of the Parliament’s yearly decisions on national budget cannot be overestimated.

So truly, Mr President, it was a brilliant choice of you to discuss the role of Parliaments, cities and local authorities in the Post-2015 implementation, since the contribution of these institutions, of their leaders to the effectuation of the Agenda is indeed not only important, but without them it will remain a beautiful and abstract vision

The members of the parliaments and local authorities are representing people, and people vote for good, clear and understandable policies and effective politicians. So we UN people better start translating the abstract vision in a digestive, inspiring way not only for the politicians but the people, the voters. That is, I am for clear-cut communication, short and understandable messages, action plans using the variety of international and local media.

Mr. President,

While the role of the Parliament is central in creating the framework, and enabling environment, much of the implementation will depend on the cities and the local authorities.

Local authorities and cities are the best placed to take into consideration the specific needs and opportunities of their communities, this is the level, where people can have the highest level of ownership and involvement.

Statement delivered by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay on behalf of the Eastern European Group at the General Assembly meeting on 2 February 2015.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Eastern European Group. The Eastern European Group expresses its deepest condolences to the Government and the people of Saudi Arabia on the sad occasion of the passing away on 23 January 2015 of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques H.M. King Abdullah bin Abdulazis Al-Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

King Abdullah had a long and distinguished life for the benefit of his country, who advanced the modernization and economic development of the Kingdom. His Majesty has been an important figure in international and regional affairs including through his support to interreligious and Intercultural dialogue. King Abdullah has played a crucial role in the region by fighting against extremism, supporting peace and stability, including through the Arab Peace Initiative.

On this sad occasion the Eastern European Group offers our sincere condolences to the Government and the people of Saudi Arabia.

*** 

Today we would also like to offer our condolences to the family and friends of Mårten Grunditz, as well as to the Swedish Mission to the United Nations upon his passing away on 27 January, 2015. Ambassador Grunditz’s career span more than forty years; he served his country in a number of important assignments. Mårten was a very professional and knowledgeable colleague whose gentle and kind presence will be sorely missed by all of us.

Intervention by Ambassador Katalin Bogyay to address concerns of a rise in Antisemitic violence worldwide, delivered at the informal plenary of the UN General Assembly, held on 22 January 2015.

The Government of Hungary strongly condemns the terrorist attack against the Jewish community in Paris, on 9 January 2015. The Phenomena of Rising Antisemitism in Western and Eastern Europe clearly shows that the fight against Antisemitism has to continue.

Keeping the memory of Holocaust is not an easy responsibility. It means speaking about the horrors that are “unspeakable,” it means experiencing that which is often regarded as “unimaginable.” It may be tempting for some to let these horrors fade and become a distant memory. We are not naturally predisposed to see evil and to recognize human potential for it.

Where you've fallen, you will stay.
In the whole universe this one
and only place is the sole place
which you have made your very own.

The country runs away from you.
House, mill, poplar—every thing
is struggling with you here, as if
in nothingness mutating.

But now it's you who won't give up.
Did we fleece you? You've grown rich.
Did we blind you? You watch us still.
You bear witness without speech.

(János Pilinszky: On the Wall of a KZ Lager)

In response to the German philosopher Adorno’s famous dictum that „to write poetry after the holocaust is barbaric” – this poem was written after Auschwitz, by a Hungarian Catholic poet, János Pilinszky, who wanted us never to forget. He dedicated his life to writing about the sin of humanity and the responsibility of the ones who have collaborated with the evil.

Millions of souls were lost during the years of Nazi tyranny. Let us pay our respect to those who have perished and suffered, and let us reaffirm our solemn vow to never let it happen again.

Mr. President,

We would like to thank the President of the General Assembly and Israel for proposing and organizing today’s important meeting.

We fully support the statement of the European Union and the cross-regional joint statement circulated by Israel.

The Hungarian Government implements a principle of zero tolerance policy in connection with all forms of hate speech and deeds, including Antisemitic incidents. We share the view that Antisemitism challenges the core values of democracy and human rights and poses a clear threat to our societies.

The extremely dangerous trends all over the world can only be tackled by strong political leadership, coordinated and comprehensive policies and actions and EDUCATION!

The Hungarian Government has implemented a series of important legislative and policy measures with a focus on three key areas: 1) law enforcement and legal measures; 2) Holocaust education and remembrance; 3) the support of the revival of Jewish culture.

Holocaust denial is banned in Hungary. Violence or incitement against a community is part of the Criminal Code. The paramilitary group “Hungarian Guard” was banned by a modification of the Criminal Code that is strictly enforced by the Government.

The Hungarian Government is aware of the challenges posed by hate speech which requires a careful approach in order to strike the right balance between efficiently countering hate speech while upholding the right to freedom of expression. A recent amendment of the Constitution enables the prosecution of hate speech under civil law, a step which was welcomed by the Jewish community. Just a few days ago, a Hungarian court issued a verdict which ordered the deletion of an article denying Holocaust on a far right online portal.ú

Mr. President,

Hungary was among those countries which joined the Stockholm Declaration in 2000 and two years later it became a full Member Country of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. We remain fully committed to the principles and objectives of the Stockholm Declaration.

Holocaust education is part of the national core curriculum in Hungary. Museums, research centers dedicated to the Holocaust can be found all over the country.

As part of our commitment to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to honor those who stood against it, 16 April was designated as National Holocaust Remembrance Day and a Holocaust Memorial Center was established .The Government dedicated 2013 as Raoul Wallenberg Year, followed by the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the remembrance of all the victims of the Holocaust in Hungary in 2014. The remembrance years serve as platforms for honest dialogue.

The Hungarian Government is dedicated to the promotion of Jewish culture and the preservation of Jewish heritage sites. Come and visit Mazel Tov, one of the coolest and fashionable cafés in Budapest, the meeting point of young people from all over the world, witness the true revival of Jewish culture. The old Jewish District in Budapest has become a vibrant cultural center, located in UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Hungarian Government allocated a strong support to the renovation of Jewish cemeteries and synagogues and involves students in the process to raise their awareness about the Holocaust and the importance of the fight against Antisemitism.

In addition to these measures, the Government established last year a consultation mechanism with Jewish organizations, called the Roundtable of Jewish Communities, which provides an effective forum for dialogue and enables timely discussion about issues of concern to the Jewish community.

In partnership with civil society, the Hungarian Government recently launched a project to monitor and prevent Antisemitic activities, which includes a hotline service to report Antisemitic incidents and will improve data collection and analysis in this field.

Mr. President,

In line with our commitments to never forget the darkest times of Hungary, the victims of the Holocaust and to honor those who stood against it, Hungary will assume the Chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) as of March this year. We are honored for this opportunity and will dedicate our Chairmanship to three main goals: the fight against Antisemitism, the promotion of Holocaust education and awareness raising about the Roma genocide.

Thank you, Mr. President.

EU ambassadors had a working lunch with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, where several important topics were discussed.

The year 2015 marks the 20-year anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive road map to gender equality. This year, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women invites you to “Orange the world: End violence against women and girls.”

From 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, through 10 December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence aim to raise public awareness and mobilizing people everywhere to bring about change. This year, the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign invites you to “Orange the world,” using the colour designated by the UNiTE campaign to symbolize a brighter future without violence.

The campaign, managed by UN Women, has proclaimed every 25th of the month as “Orange Day” – a day to take action to raise awareness and prevent violence against women and girls.

Initiated and led by the UNiTE campaign Global Youth Network, Orange Day calls upon activists, governments and UN partners to mobilize people and highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls, not only once a year, on 25 November, but every month.

Hungary, together with the Steering Group of the Friends of Water, has organized a discussion with H.E. Csaba Kőrösi, Director for Sustainable Development, Office of the President of Hungary. The former co-chair of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals has shared his views and expectations with regard to the challenges and opportunities related to the implementation of the water dimensions of the SDGs.

Director Kőrösi emphasized that in order to tackle the looming water crisis a thorough change in the mindsets is needed. The highly integrated set of SDGs represents this transformative change, but implementation also requires a new, systemic approach.

As there is currently a mismatch between the integrated and ambitious 2030 vision of freshwater and sanitation management and the international political structures available to contribute to its implementation, institutional changes are needed. Along the lines of the UNSGAB proposal this could mean the establishment of an Intergovernmental Committee on Water and Sanitation, the strengthening of UN-Water, the setup of a global monitoring framework and the creation of a scientific expert platform.

Participants welcomed recommendations of which will be cornerstones in the future exchanges on the institutional aspects of the global water architecture, and expressed their strong commitment to start engaging in a dialogue.

The General Assembly considered the current migration and refugee crises at its meetings on 19 and 20 November. Member States agreed in the need for a comprehensive and global approach and supported the Secretary General’s initiative to hold a High-Level Summit on managing large-scale movements of migrants and refugees in September 2016. Aside from the urging humanitarian needs, many states emphasized the need to address the root causes of conflicts together with the importance of fully implementing the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development.

The Secretary General announced several related events for the next year and announced that he will organize a High-Level Summit on managing large-scale movements of migrants and refugees on the margins of the General Debate of the 71st session of the General Assembly in September 2016. To guide the discussions at this Summit, he will also submit a report on models for comprehensive solutions based on global responsibility sharing.

Member States agreed that a comprehensive and global approach is needed to tackle the dramatic and unprecedented migration and refugee crisis in the Mediterranean basin. Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq that are already hosting 4.3 million people. Most of those refugees were fleeing conflict, violence, persecution and some had become victims for a second time due to migrant smuggling and human trafficking. Many countries referred to the 2030 Agenda and the importance of development in long-term conflict prevention and addressing issues of human mobility in general.

In a statement delivered by the Deputy Permanent Representative, Hungary emphasized the need to make clear distinction between migration and refugee crises as they have different root causes. Then a global, comprehensive, but differentiated response is needed to tackle the root causes of the refugee crisis, address issues related to global migration. In the meantime, the international community should step up its efforts to provide humanitarian aid and development assistance to host countries and communities. Throughout the process, the international community should bear in mind the need for synergy and virtuous cycles and aim at successfully and fully implementing the 2030 Agenda.

Amid added urgency fuelled by last week’s terrorist attacks in Beirut and Paris, Security Council held its first open debate on security, development and the root causes of conflicts on 17 November 2015. Member States have underlined the fundamental link between security and development and the important role to be played by the Council in the field of conflict prevention.

Ban Ki-moon stressed that to tackle today’s conflicts and violent extremism, actions must integrate the interdependent pillars of the work of the United Nations: peace, development and human rights.

Member States have underscored the need to address the root causes of conflicts, and the crucial importance of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which calls for achieving peaceful and inclusive societies, built on access to justice and accountable institutions. Recognizing the fundamental link between security and development, speakers called upon the Security Council to intensify its collaboration with the Peacebuilding Commission and also focus on prevention.

Ambassador Zsolt Hetesy, Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations, underlined that while it is the responsibility of the Security Council to find and enforce political solutions, only sustainable development is capable of taking care of root causes that led or contributed to the conflicts. Ambassador Hetesy reaffirmed that without putting an end to the conflicts there is no solution for the current refugee crisis. Migration, on the other hand, is caused by different forms of unsustainability. By implementing Agenda 2030, the world can tackle economic, environmental, and social unsustainability, so irregular migration does not have to occur. Rather than reinforcing the division lines between UN organs, ever closer cooperation is needed to address today’s threats of integrated nature.

Please find Amb. Hetesy’s statement here.

The President of the Human Rights Council, Mr. Joachim Rücker presented the annual report of the Council to the 70th session of the UN General Assembly on 16 November 2015. In the national statement following the presentation Ambassador Zsolt Hetesy, Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN, reiterated Hungary’s strong support to the work of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms.

Ambassador Hetesy recalled that Hungary has been an active supporter of the Council since its establishment in 2006, including by taking a leading role in introducing the resolutions on the independence of judges and lawyers and on the question of reprisals. Hungary was a member of the Council between 2009 and 2012 and served as its Vice-President from 2011-12. Hungary has presented its candidature for membership in the Council for the period 2017-2019.

At the interactive Dialogue with the President in the Third Committee, Ambassador Hetesy reiterated Hungary’s commitment to the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Deputy Permanent Representative furthermore emphasized, that Hungary condemns all acts of intimidation and reprisals and welcomes the actions taken by the President of the Human Rights Council to address this important issue.

Please find Ambassador Hetesy’s statement here.

During second plenary debate of this year’s Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the question of equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council Member States had the chance to address the three most difficult issues of the process - such as  categories of membership, regional representation and the question of veto -, where the elements of convergences emerged have not yet been consolidated into a concrete text.

In his intervention Mr. Zoltán Varga, Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary reiterated the support for a simple and understandable enlargement model that could mean the Council’s expansion in both categories while not excluding the possibility of introducing an intermediary solution. Equitable geographical representation remains one of the key priorities for Hungary, thus we again called for a second non-permanent seat for the Eastern European Group.

On the veto, perhaps the most divisive issue, there was more convergence than divergence to be detected during the discussion. As a member of the ACT group Hungary supports the Code of Conduct to prevent or stop atrocity crimes as well as for the French-Mexican proposal on the voluntary restraint of veto power.

The second debate confirmed that overwhelming majority would like to see the process moving towards text-based negotiations as soon as possible, therefore Hungary together with many others welcomed the letter sent by the Permanent Representative of St. Vincent and Grenadines on behalf of the L69 group calling for the consolidation of member states positions. In general Hungary is open to support all efforts aiming at finding practical solutions to avoid ritually repeating the same IGN process every year.

Please find the statement made by Mr. Zoltán Varga, Deputy Permanent Representative here. 

Although Member States are still divided on how to move forward with Security Council reform, the majority of them consider the “improved framework document” prepared by the previous Chair as a good basis for text based negotiations and request the Chair to provide a detailed work program for the intergovernmental negotiations (IGN). However, some countries still think that, after more than 10 years, the situation is still not ripe for such a decisive step.

The President of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft (PGA) convened GA debate on Security Council reform. The topic commands great interest, as reflected by the 60 statements made by the 60 countries, and all the negotiating groups (CARICOM, African States, L69, UfC, Arab States, G4 and Nordic Countries).

The President appointed H.E. Amb. Sylvie Lucas, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg as Chair of the IGN replacing H.E. Amb. Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica. The PGA called upon Member States to start narrowing down differences through text based negotiations. The new Chair promised a neutral and transparent procedure and requested the Member States to advance on the basis of the results achieved during the 69th session.

In his statement H.E. Amb. Zsolt Hetesy, Deputy Permanent Representative expressed the support of Hungary for the reform procedure and recognized the important work made by the outgoing Chair. He also stressed the importance of starting substantive negotiations based on an agreed work program. Through positive examples, the Hungarian statement also highlighted that Member States should continue to work on the improvement of the Security Council’s working methods and activities besides the IGN driven reform procedure.

Please find the full statement of Ambassador Hetesy here.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Ms. Rita Izsák, presented her annual report to the UN General Assembly on 28 October 2015.

In her report, the Special Rapporteur gave an overview of the situation of the human rights of national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in the criminal justice process. Ms. Izsák expressed concern about the disproportionate targeting of minorities by law enforcement officers, which continues to take place in many countries around the world.

During the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, Ambassador Zsolt Hetesy, Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN, reiterated Hungary’s strong support to the Special Rapporteur’s work and mandate. Ambassador Hetesy underlined that in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States agreed to ensure equal access to justice for all and to enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies, which are crucial steps for the protection of the rights of national, ethnic religious and linguistic minorities. Hungary supports the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations about the need for designing national strategies, ensuring inclusion and building trust, by building bridges between minorities and law enforcement authorities. Hungary also appreciates the Special Rapporteur’s work in preparing the first ever comprehensive study on the human rights situation of Roma worldwide, which was presented to the Human Rights Council in June this year.

Please find the Ambassador Hetesy’s statement here.