The European Youth Centre Budapest and the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade organised today a conference entitled “Opportunities for Political Participation of National Minority Youth”. The event is part of the Council of Europe Days initiative highlighting the work and added value of the organisation across the 46 member states through local events.
In his welcoming remarks, the Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge, emphasised the importance of making people aware of the way their fundamental rights are protected in Europe. Rights that they may take for granted, but which are based on the European Convention of Human Rights, the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg and the Convention system.
“A focus on young people from national minorities, encouraging them to participate in politics – And take part in the public life of their country. This is about the very fabric of a democratic society – safeguarding the rights of everyone. It is about treating national minorities as equals, who will share with all others the responsibility for shaping their shared future,” he said.
Hungarian Secretary of State for Security Policy and Energy Security Peter Sztaray and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hungarian National Assembly Zsolt Németh opened the conference.
Keynote addresses were delivered by Secretary of the Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion of the Council of Europe Wolfram Bechtel, and Chairperson on the Programming Committee on Youth of the Council on Youth Pia Šlogar.
