Embassies in support of Budapest Eurogames

The Budapest embassies of 16 countries have issued a joint statement expressing support for the Budapest EuroGames 2012, this year’s European Gay & Lesbian Championships, an annual European event, and the Budapest Pride Festival.

The Embassies in Hungary of Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States have issued the following joint press release.

On the occasion of the Budapest EuroGames 2012 and the 17th Budapest Pride Festival, we convey our support for, and solidarity with, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities in Hungary. We support the right of these persons to organise large scale events and to be able to express themselves peacefully and lawfully.

Respect for human rights — including justice, equality, non-discrimination, and freedom of expression — and the rule of law are the foundations upon which democratic states are built. Indeed, international human rights law is grounded on the premise that all individuals are entitled to the same rights and freedoms, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We welcome the Hungarian government’s commitment to supporting these rights and their support in June 2011 of the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

We look forward to these celebrations, to the respect for them which the Hungarian people will show and to the determination of the Hungarian authorities not to allow those of extreme views to disrupt what should and will be joyful occasions.