Hungarian Minister of Human Capacities Zoltán Balog attended and addressed the U.N. Transatlantic Summit “Strengthening the Family for Sustainable Development” in New York on 5 December.
“The true cradle of life is the family, even if it sometimes consists of people who may not be perfect”, Mr. Balog said in his keynote speech. It is an issue of basic approach whether one decides to strive for an ideal solution that is beneficial both for individuals and the whole of society, or one instead concludes that families are no longer a functional entity and concentrates on individual goals without even attempting to improve the situation, he continued.
Hungary’s Fundamental Law and family policies are both proof that Hungary does not fall in the latter category, the Minister stated. Following the session, Mr. Balog attended a press conference together with U.S. congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R), President of the Colombian Centro Democratico party Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, and Professor of Law Dr. Helen M. Alvaré.
At the press conference, Mr. Balog said that many NGO’s and decision-makers share worldwide governmental ambitions of improving conditions for families.
Also in New York, the Minister met UNICEF Managing Director Anthony Lake to support Hungary’s offer to host the organisation’s planned new service centre.
Hungarian Minister of State for Family and Youth Affairs Katalin Novák attended a roundtable discussion during the summit, where she talked about ways of reversing negative demographic trends. Deputy State Secretary for International and EU Affairs Gergely Prőhle met U.N. Special Representative on Violence Against Children Maria Santos Pais, informing her on the results of a UNICEF investigation on children’s rights in Hungary and recent Hungarian legislative changes relating to child protection.