The Center for Fundamental Rights says that the NGO is encouraging people to break the law.Continue reading
Several scandals involving the abuse of minors have shaken public opinion in Hungary in recent weeks. A disturbing case involving a 39-year-old pedagogical assistant, which Hungary Today also reported on, has also generated much public debate. In a video posted on his social media site, the man talked about having an affair with a 15-year-old student, which he did not consider a problem, given that the age of consent in Hungary is currently 14.
Besides the case of the teaching assistant, a former politician from the Greens’ Party LMP also reportedly turned out to be attracted to minors. He was arrested by police recently for sexual abuse of a person under the age of 14 (according to media information, the minor was a boy).
In the light of the recent cases that have become public, the government is looking to tighten child protection rules, and it is possible that the age of consent could be raised. Furthermore, it is not only politicians who are concerned about the issue, but also the public. A recent survey by the Center for Fundamental Rights shows that
95 percent of those questioned consider it unacceptable for a teaching assistant to have sexual relations with a 15-year-old minor.
Asked whether they agree with the idea of schools offering sessions on different sexual orientations to children without parental permission, the majority of respondents said no. 70% of respondents disagree, while 24% agree. The responses show that Hungarians do not want their children to be sensitized by school staff and to be talked to about topics that are mostly the responsibility of parents. Moreover, parents may also not want someone else to tell their children about sexual orientation and sexuality, because it may not be presented in the way they would like, not according to their values.
The Center for Fundamental Rights also asked Hungarians if they agree with the tightening of the law on sexual education of under-18s. 58 percent of respondents agree with tightening the law, 19 percent think it should not be changed, and 9 percent would prefer to relax the rules.
On the first day of the spring session of parliament, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also talked about the case, saying that the number of cases of child pornography in Hungary is rising sharply, and “one cannot in all reason understand how this can happen in Hungary.” He said that “such things have no place in Hungary, especially in our schools,” and that the government had given clear instructions to the authorities to investigate all such cases. Orbán also asked all parliamentary groups to cooperate in the protection of children.
Featured photo via Pixabay
