On the occasion of the visit to Hungary of Mr Jim Murphy, United Kingdom Minister for Europe, the governments of the United Kingdom and Hungary publicly re-affirm their commitment to working together, and with other international partners, to promote respect for human rights and tolerance in all parts of the world.

2008 marks a number of key milestones in the development of international human rights.  These include the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights; the 15th Anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and the establishment of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; and the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.  

We are also on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the collapse of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe.  The Governments of Hungary and the United Kingdom pay tribute to the role played by the then Hungarian leadership in the collapse of repressive communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe.  By literally cutting the Iron Curtain in 1989, Hungary hastened the demise of communist regimes throughout the region and thereby acted as a major driving force to pave the way for democracy, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for tens of millions of European citizens.  The United Kingdom notes Hungary's commitment to sharing its unique experience of the transition period with other countries currently working to improve democracy and respect for human rights.

Despite these historic and far-reaching achievements there remain millions of people in the world whose human rights are neither upheld nor protected.  No societies - including our own - are entirely free of intolerance and racism.  We must do all we can to change this.

Our governments regard prevention of genocide and mass atrocities as a top priority for the international community. We note and commend the tremendous efforts to promote international cooperation in this domain made by  the United Nations and the European Union – in particular Javier Solana, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy – together with governments, NGOs and other international organizations.  Much progress has been made, but much remains to be done to prevent the incidence of dreadful crimes against humanity which still blights our world.

As members of the European Union and the United Nations, Hungary and the United Kingdom are fully committed and ready to take concrete steps to back up these convictions.  This is the context in which Hungary has decided to prepare a feasibility study on the establishment of an independent International Centre for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities (ICPG) in Budapest. The United Kingdom congratulates Hungary on the decision to carry out this study and awaits the results with interest.

Hungary and the United Kingdom welcome the EU’s continuing strong commitment to human rights and its efforts to highlight and act against human rights abuses wherever they occur.  We urge the European Union to continue its efforts to increase pressure on regimes of concern to address human rights and democracy failings.

The United Kingdom recognises Hungary's commitment to playing an active role in the defence of human rights, and the focus placed on human rights in the new national Foreign Policy Strategy and Hungary's recent appointment of a Human Rights Ambassador.  The United Kingdom notes that the first Budapest Human Rights Forum took place on 28th August and welcomes the emphasis that that meeting placed upon the defence of human rights activists and the important role of NGOs in the protection of human rights.  The United Kingdom welcomes these developments and encourages Hungary to continue to be an active force for good, both bilaterally and through international organisations.

The United Kingdom is also fully committed to the promotion of (and respect for) human rights within its own borders. Since 2 October 2000, the Human Rights Act has made rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights enforceable in UK courts. Since 1998, three independent human rights commissions have been established: the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, and, more recently, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (covering England and Wales). A Scottish Commission for Human Rights is also being established. The Government also continues to promote the mainstreaming of human rights through practical tools such as the free online awareness course on human rights, the teaching resource "Right Here, Right Now" to teach citizenship through human rights in secondary schools in England, and the wide distribution of human rights guidance amongst public authorities.

The Government of Hungary and the United Kingdom share a commitment to protecting the rights of minorities and to ensuring the protection of all members of society from aggression or intolerance. We recognise that ethnic and religious minorities are a source of inspiration and collective enrichment to the countries where they live and that diversity of population should be cherished and promoted.  Both of our Governments forthrightly condemn any acts of intolerance based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religious belief or sexual orientation - whether they occur within our own borders or elsewhere.

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