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1. Intercultural awareness

2. Young people's rights

3. Key initiatives to safeguard democracy and prevent radicalisation leading to violent extremism

Intercultural awareness

Intercultural awareness appears mainly in formal education. 

One of the main aims of the National Social Inclusion Strategy 2030 (NSIS 2030) is to raise cultural awareness of Roma and especially among young people: to shape their attitudes, to teach them to live together, and facilitate understanding and tolerance of Roma culture. To achieve this goal, the monitoring report 2021–2022 of the strategy states that the Educational Authority reviewed the 8^th – 12^th grade History and Hungarian Literature textbooks between 2015–2022 to complete them with information on Roma culture.

The National Core Curriculum (Nemzeti Alaptanterv) also requires the teaching of knowledge about nationalities (including the Roma and Gypsy population). It is important to nurture the self-awareness of Hungarian nationalities.

Besides these, the Accreditation Department of the Educational Authority organizes several training sessions for educators in teacher training in the field of intercultural awareness. The 'Dear Home Education 1 – Basic Training: Understanding 'Otherness', Roma Culture' ('Kedvesház-pedagógia 1. - alapozó továbbképzés: a "más"-ság megismerése, roma kultúra') aims at providing the appropriate techniques and attitudes for teachers to handle the situations coming from the children's different cultural, ethnic, religious and social backgrounds and also to teach children how to understand and accept other cultures.

Roma Special Colleges

The Network of Catholic Roma Colleges (Keresztény Roma Szakkollégiumi Hálózat) was established by Christian Churches of Hungary in 2011 for the purpose of strengthening Roma intellectuals and helping Roma students to get university or college degrees. According to the Act CCIV of 2011 on National Higher Education (2011. évi CCIV. törvény a nemzeti felsőoktatásról) higher education institutions may operate a special college for Roma.

The students of the Roma Special Colleges receive performance-dependent scholarships. The scholarship provided for the members of the special colleges is subject to measurable professional-research performance. Students shall meet stringent criteria for becoming eligible for the maximum amount, and they shall also take part in community, voluntary and research programmes.

They receive mentoring and tutorial assistance, as well as assistance by the heads of the special colleges. In addition, they also have the opportunity for learning languages, travelling abroad, participating in professional conferences and community-building camps.

According to the ministry information, in 2025, about 700 students from Roma special colleges have received a higher education degree since the start of the programme. In 2025, a call for proposals published under the Human Resources Development Operational Programme (Emberi Erőforrás Fejlesztési Operatív Program, EFOP program) aims to develop Roma Special Colleges. Its goal is to improve services in existing institutions and help Roma youth gain experience abroad.

Awareness-raising cultural events

The Day for Roma Culture (Nemzetközi Roma Nap), held on 8 April, provides the opportunity to organize various Roma cultural events each year. In 2024, the Budapest Capital Municipality organised a ceremony on that day. The Department for Social Inclusion launched the Balázs János Award (Balázs János díj) in 2019, which is awarded on the Day for Roma Culture each year. The nominations can already be submitted for 2026. It is a recognition of those who have made an outstanding contribution to helping disadvantaged people and communities - especially Roma - achieve social inclusion, education and employment; help preserve Roma identity and culture, support social dialogue, and inspire the future generation with these activities. 

Young people's rights

In Hungary, several laws deal with prostitution, sexual exploitation of children or young people (under the age of 18); such as Act C of 2012 on Criminal Code; the Fundamental Law of Hungary; Act XXXI of 1997 on Child Protection (1997. évi XXXI. törvény a gyermekek védelméről és a gyámügyi igazgatásról) and Act LXXV of 1999 on Organised Crime (1999. évi LXXV. törvény). Hungary also signed the Lanzarote Convention which is a convention that requires States that signed it to offer a holistic response to sexual violence against children, through prevention, protection, prosecution and promotion of national and international cooperation.

These laws prohibit the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children and protect the territory and surroundings of schools, children's hospitals and child protection institutions.

In Hungary, several crisis management network facilities also exist to help the victims of domestic violence and human trafficking in Hungary (including children). The maintenance of the crisis centres, halfway exit houses (emergency shelters) and crisis management ambulances is currently financed from the central budget. The primary task of crisis management network facilities is to provide immediate shelter for victims in acute crisis due to abuse and to ensure their safety. Crisis centres and secret shelters offer victims complex, comprehensive care such as professional help, accommodation and rehabilitation.

Other programmes focusing on the protection of young people

In addition, the National Social Inclusion Strategy 2030 sets a goal to organise prevention campaigns and workshops for children and young adults to educate and inform them on human trafficking. Based on the monitoring report 2021–2022 of the strategy, one campaign ('Don't let it, don't do it' - 'Ne hagyd, ne tedd') run between 2020 and 2023 and aimed at 12–18-year-olds and their teachers in public education and in child protection institutions. The campaign reached about 2 100 children and teachers. Although the project ended in 2023, its professional materials are still available on the website, and they regularly post on the topic of human trafficking.

Key initiatives to safeguard democracy and prevent radicalisation leading to violent extremism

Policies against radicalisation are set out in the National Social Inclusion Strategy 2030 and mainly in the above-mentioned legislation. Although it is not referred to in them directly, the measures and acts have an indirect effect on safeguarding democracy and preventing radicalisation.

Other initiatives

According to Ministry's information in 2025, warning signs associated with lone offenders—including school shooters—are becoming increasingly frequent in Hungary. Given the serious social impact of such cases, prevention has become a matter of high priority for the government. The National Crime Prevention Council (Nemzeti Bűnmegelőzési Tanács) has for years treated the prevention of radicalisation leading to violent extremism as a key focus area. As a result, a number of measures were implemented during the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 academic years to prevent this phenomenon and to protect young people.

Within the framework of a supported project, BOOKR Kids (BOOKR Kids) produced an AI (Artificial Intelligence)-assisted animated short film (Marko's Story) in June 2024. The film provides a clear and engaging insight into the behavioural changes of young people undergoing radicalisation. It follows the story of a socially excluded youth and the path that leads to increasingly extreme attitudes and actions. The narrative highlights that becoming an offender is not the result of a single decision, but rather a gradual process shaped by earlier negative life experiences. The primary aim of the short film is to raise awareness, support early risk identification, and demonstrate how timely intervention can prevent escalation and protect vulnerable individuals (source is Ministry's information).

In 2025, a methodological guide was also developed to accompany the animated film, supporting professionals and educators in its use. The guide offers approaches, methods, and practical tools to help build inclusive classroom communities, strengthen acceptance of diversity, and foster mutual understanding—thus contributing to the reduction of exclusion and bullying in schools (source is Ministry's information).

In 2025, the National Crime Prevention Council organised an awareness training course for teachers, called 'Time Bombs in Schools' ('Időzített bombák'). The aim of the training is to help teachers identify students who are becoming marginalised within the school community and are struggling with behavioural problems, and who may potentially pose a risk to themselves or others. The training supports the effective functioning of the early warning system, expands the range of preventive tools available, and enhances teachers’ psychological awareness and sensitivity. According to Ministry's information, 28 courses were held in 2025. Further training can be organised till the end of 2026.