Peter Drenth (Netherlands, EPP/CCE), Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has made the following statement:
“I deeply regret the adoption of a constitutional amendment on 14 April in Hungary that enshrines the recent law banning the organisation of Pride and similar events under the pretext of protecting physical, mental and moral development of children. The amendment also paves the way to the use of facial recognition technology at LGBTI and other gatherings, as well as enshrining a strict gender binary and the sex of birth in law. Protecting children means educating them in human rights and fundamental freedoms to help prevent the drift towards authoritarianism, and equip them to shape an inclusive and tolerant society.
“Every Hungarian – like every other European – should have the right to freedom of expression and to freedom of assembly and association. To take those rights away from LGBTI Hungarians, and those who support them, is a backwards step that leads to discrimination. Ultimately, this is harmful to Hungary.
“I am also concerned by the specific implications of this amendment for Hungarian local and regional authorities. Where local and regional authorities are asked to enforce these laws, they, in turn, are being asked to violate people’s human rights. This is not how a democracy should work.
“I urge the Hungarian authorities to think again about the value of supporting Prides and similar events. LGBTI Hungarians are integral to Hungarian society.
“They must be supported, not banned from gathering in public or spied on.”
