Government: Roma integration programs in Hungary were successful

Hungary has achieved greater equality under its Christian Democratic government since 2010, ensuring better care for the disadvantaged in society, a lawmaker of the ruling Fidesz party said, opening a three-day international conference on Roma integration in Budapest on Wednesday.

Hungary took over the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) for six months in May, Zsolt Németh, member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), told the event. The chairmanship provides an outstanding opportunity for Hungary to enforce its interests, especially in the field of national and ethnic minority rights, including the rights of the Roma minority, Nemeth said, adding that this was a priority.

Németh said Hungary’s national Roma integration strategy adopted in 2011

was the country’s most comprehensive strategy aimed at fighting poverty and integrating its Roma community. He underscored the government’s commitment towards fulfilling these two objectives.

Addressing the opening, Snezana Samardzic-Markovic, Director General of Democracy at the Council of Europe, highlighted among the tasks defined in the CoE’s 2020-2025 action plan combatting the discrimination of the Roma and measures against hate crime. She called providing quality education to Roma children and equal rights to Roma women key objectives.