In recent days, the left has started talking about the issue of child protection, but their concern is not credible because in recent years, child protection proposals have not been supported in parliament. The votes of a political party or a member of parliament show what is important to him and what is not. - wrote Bence Rétvári, the parliamentary state secretary of the Ministry of the Interior (BM) on his Facebook page on Tuesday. On his social media page, the politician compiled a long list of child protection proposals that the left-wing parties that are now arguing for the cause were not willing to support. While the government tried to advance the issue of child protection with new legislative amendments year after year, the left tried to actively oppose the measures.  

In his post, the Secretary of State pointed out:

In recent years, left-wing representatives have voted dozens of times against legislation protecting children, often against children living in social care.

All this could not have been realized if it was up to the left, because they voted no in the parliament:

  • In 2012, the left did not support the introduction of the new Penal Code, which is stricter than ever before and emphasizes the protection of children. Thus, if it had passed on the left, children would not be protected today by the EU's strictest Criminal Code, which protects not the criminal but the victim (Bill T/6958 2012).
  • The left did not support that those who have committed serious crimes against children should not be able to carry out work related to the education or care of children in the future. The left would not have provided assistance to vulnerable victims (Bill T/13091, 2013).
  • The left did not support the introduction of domestic violence as a type of crime. If it had happened to them, today there would be no enhanced protection for children, spouses, and partners who suffer violence and humiliation, who are vulnerable as a result of cohabitation (2013, bill T/11105).
  • The left did not support the legal creation of shelter houses. If it had happened to them, today there would be no places where mothers who are victims of domestic violence can hide with their children from those who abuse them (Bill T/5052, 2015).
  • The left did not support the amendment to the law on the strengthening of the guardianship authority and the child protection alert system either. Thus, if it had been up to them, today the ban on refusing care for minors would not be introduced even for cooperation with the family doctor, family pediatrician and nurse (2016 bill T/12477).
  • The left did not support the development of a uniform procedure for the investigation and treatment of cases of abuse of children living in child protection institutions, foster care and correctional institutions. Thus, if it had been up to them, today it would not be possible to investigate and treat child abuse cases more quickly and efficiently. (Bill T/15378 of 2017)
  • The left did not support the introduction of the home care fee for children, which helps care for children who are unable to take care of themselves, who require full-day care, who are severely disabled, who are chronically ill. Thus, they would not provide higher financial support to parents who care for their children at home (Bill T/3623 of 2018).
  • The left did not support the domestic transfer of the Barnahus model, which provides modern help and treatment in case of child abuse. Thus, if it had been up to them, today the sexually abused children would not be heard about the case in a safe environment, in child-friendly rooms, with the help of professionals, but in official, harsh conditions used for adults, which make children feel bad (Bill T/3623 of 2018 ).
  • The left did not support the creation of a pedophile registry. Thus, if it had been up to them, today parents would not be able to check in an online database whether the person working with their child had previously been convicted of a sexual crime committed against children (Bill 2021. T/16365).
  • The left did not support the statute of limitations on serious sexual crimes committed against children. Thus, if it had happened to them, today the victim would not have the opportunity to file a report at any time, even years later (Bill 2021. T/16365).
  • The left did not support harsher sanctions against perpetrators of child pornography. Thus, if it had happened to them, today it would not be forbidden for perpetrators of child pornography to get close to children again after a while (Bill 2021.T/16365).
  • The left did not support the child protection referendum in 2022. The following terms were used for the case: "corrupted nonsense", "stupidity", "today it is simply not among the most important ten thousand cases in Hungary", "ridiculous".
  • In 2023, the left urged people not to take part in the National Consultation, while the important question was whether child protection regulations should be further tightened.

Bence Rétvári concluded his speech by saying: The list could be continued about how many times children have been let down by left-wing politicians. These examples clearly show that for them the attack of the government is always more important than the protection of children. The left has consistently proven that when it comes to child protection, they cannot be counted on.

"And the government has strengthened child protection every year with new and new amendments to the law, and we will continue to do so in the future"

- emphasized the state secretary.

MTI / civilek.info

Cover image: Illustration / MTI/Zoltán Máthé