AMNESTY INTERNATONAL

PUBLIC STATEMENT

AI Index: EUR 27/002/2009

2 September 2009

Hungary: Amnesty International shows solidarity with Budapest Pride participants

On 5 September, Amnesty International members will participate in the Budapest Gay Pride march in solidarity with Hungarian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, who continue to face widespread hostility and discrimination in the country. Amnesty International believes that this year’s Budapest Pride provides an excellent opportunity to counter intolerance and celebrate the rights and dignity of LGBT people in Hungary and across Europe.

Amnesty International calls on the Hungarian authorities to ensure that the marchers’ rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fully respected. By providing adequate police protection for Pride participants, the Hungarian authorities could demonstrate that lessons have been learnt from previous years and that Hungary is prepared to guarantee human rights for all.

The Pride march takes place in the context of Budapest Pride, an LGBT film and cultural festival organized by the local organization Rainbow Mission Foundation (Szivárvány Misszió Alapítvány) between 30 August and 6 September.

In 2007 and 2008, participants of the Pride march in Budapest were verbally and physically attacked by counter-demonstrators, without receiving adequate police protection. Amnesty International has repeatedly called on the Hungarian authorities to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association for LGBT people.

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