Translation: Anna Apergi Konstantinidis, Special Advisor Diversity Charter Greece
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty , called on Hungary to respect the human rights of LGBTQ+ people by stopping repression in the urban space.
“I am here during Budapest Pride week in solidarity with Hungarian LGBTQ+ people, respecting and celebrating them in all their diversity, but also in condemnation of the violation of their human rights,” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, at the Budapest Pride 30 International Human Rights Conference on 25 June 2025 .
At the Conference, the Commissioner expressed his strong solidarity with LGBTI+ people and civil society in Hungary. The Commissioner, who has previously expressed concern about legislation allowing for the banning of gatherings related to LGBTI+ equality, expressed his deep disappointment at the decision to ban the Budapest Pride March, which is due to take place on Saturday 28 June . He also stressed that Hungary is unfortunately not alone in this matter – similar bans exist, both in law and in practice, elsewhere. Where marches do take place, they are all too often met with hatred, violence, mass or arbitrary arrests.
The ban on Budapest Pride is the latest in a series of crackdowns against LGBTQI+ people in Hungary, following the introduction of the so-called anti-LGBTQI+ propaganda law in 2021, which is currently subject to infringement proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union.
“We must stand united against these blatant threats to human rights. The ability to peacefully assemble, to express ourselves and to be treated equally and with dignity, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression or gender characteristics, has nothing to do with ideologies or favoritism towards particular groups. It is a cornerstone of healthy human rights-based democracies and a measure of the functioning of the rule of law in a country. Failure to defend these rights risks undermining the very foundations of our law-based societies. The abolition of the human rights of some simply does not happen in a vacuum, it ultimately affects everyone.”
“The repression of LGBTQ+ people in Hungary must be seen in a broader context. In the last year alone, I have reacted to successive constitutional and legislative amendments that appear to aim to silence civil society organisations and independent media, limiting the space in which they can operate and stigmatising them in campaigns fuelled by disinformation. Civil society actors face intimidation and harassment in relation to their work defending human rights or exposing corruption. I remain deeply concerned about the draft law on transparency in public life, which, pending its passage before Parliament, fundamentally undermines civic space in Hungary.” the Commissioner stressed.
This weekend will mark the culmination of Pride Month in Budapest. Many people will come together to celebrate and defend equality and human rights for all. That’s why The Commissioner calls on the Hungarian authorities to enable peaceful participants to march safely, without fear of reprisals, persecution or violence. Police officers should guarantee a protective space for participants.
More generally, as the Commissioner stated, the authorities should reverse steps that undermine civil society. They should create a conducive working environment for human rights defenders, in line with binding international human rights standards.
Read the Commissioner’s full speech here: https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/budapest-pride-30-international-human-rights-conference
Source: Council of Europe
