The package of child protection laws adopted by the parliament on Tuesday is being attacked in the Western press, including at the government level. The US State Department spokeswoman expressed concern about the law's alleged restrictive effect on free speech, and the European Commission also announced that it would launch an investigation into the decision.
Social Democrat German State Minister Michael Roth also expressed his displeasure, saying that this is serious discrimination against LGBTIQ people and that it goes against common European values. According to the government, the purpose of the law is to protect children from the influence of lobbies promoting gender identity politics, and leaves the decision in these matters to the parents. Despite this, the Western left-wing press overwhelmingly condemned the Hungarian measure introducing strictures against pedophile crimes.
The Reuters journalist stated that the law is a sign that the hard-line Hungarian Prime Minister is becoming increasingly radicalized in his social program. The French news agency AFP, citing a twenty-three-year-old, unnamed school psychologist, called the law disgusting because it confuses homosexuality with sexual crimes.
Antecedent:
At home, the Parliament adopted the bill on international judicial cooperation concerning parental responsibility, thereby strengthening the protection of children and the enforcement of their interests in court and official proceedings affecting them, Judit Varga said.
The Minister of Justice announced in his Facebook post that the representatives supported the initiative with 172 yes votes.
"With this modern and forward-looking legal rule at the EU level, we have ensured children's right to be heard, so that their opinions are also taken into account during the proceedings," the minister emphasized, adding: the protection of children is our common cause, it cannot become a victim of political and ideological debates .
"Furthermore, it is relevant that last night Fidesz submitted an anti-pedophile law package to the parliament, the aim of which is to make the legal consequences of sexual crimes committed against children stricter, and to give children as much protection as possible," reminded the head of the ministry.
Opening image, Michael Roth: AFP/Markus Schreiber
Source: magyarhirlap.hu
