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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 living together and facilitate understanding and tolerance of Roma culture. To achieve this goal, the 2023 monitoring report of the strategy states that the Educational Authority reviewed the 8^th and 12^th grade History and Hungarian Literature textbooks between 2015 and 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's training in the field of intercultural awareness. The 'Diversity and inclusion in kindergartens and in school - shaping attitudes playfully' ('Sokszínűség és befogadás az óvodában és az iskolában - szemléletváltás játékosan') aims at providing the appropriate techniques and attitudes for teachers to handle the situtations coming from the children's different cultural, ethnic, religious and social background and also to teach children how to understand and accept other cultures.

Special Colleges for Roma

The Christian Roma College Network (Keresztény Roma Szakkollégium, CRCN) 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 2024, about 700 students from Roma special colleges have received a higher education degree since the start of the programme.

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. It is a recognition to 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); for example

• 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),
• Law Against Sexual Exploitation (Lanzarote Convention),
• Act LXXV of 1999 on Organised Crime (1999. évi LXXV. törvény).

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 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 the crisis management network facilities is to immediately take in victims in acute crises due to abuse and to eliminate the threat. Crisis centres and secret shelters offer victims complex, comprehensive care such as professional help, accommodation and rehabilitation.

Other programmes focusing on young people protection

In addition, the NSIS 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 2023 monitoring report 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.

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

There are no directives in place related to the topic.