Hungarian Minister of State for Family and Social Affairs Katalin Novák held talks on Thursday with United Nations and UNICEF officials in Geneva. UNICEF Director of Private Funding and Partnerships Gérard Bocquenet praised Hungary’s efforts to support children.

The Minister of State and UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Flavia Pansieri reviewed Hungarian achievements in human rights and the challenges ahead of the Hungarian government. Katalin Novák also briefed UN representatives on the steps Hungary is taking to broaden women’s life choices before and after childbirth, before and after returning to the labour market.

The aim of the Hungarian government is to create conditions which allow every man and woman to decide how much time they want to spend with their families based on their individual choices, not their financial status – Novák explained. She also highlighted Hungarian efforts to ensure proper meals for young children who are not necessarily receiving those at home: compulsory kindergarten attendance from the age of three, a more comprehensive free meals program and stricter minimum requirements for public catering.

Bocquenet said that Hungary’s results in defending children’s rights were praiseworthy and setting an example for other nations as well. He pointed out that Hungary’s achievements were instrumental in the decision to base the UNICEF service centre in the Hungarian capital, Budapest.

(Ministry of Human Capacities)