Organised by the Országos Közös Akarat (National Common Will) civil group, the participants gathered at St Gellért Square and marched across Szabadság Bridge to Kossuth Square in front of Parliament.

Speaking at the event, Sándor Meleg, the head of the Association of Hungarian Social Workers, said the government’s recently announced measures related to child protection including an amendment to the Fundamental Law and vetting the leaders of social institutions would not solve the problems prevalent in the institutional network.

He called the recent measures announced in response to the Bicske children’s home affair “improvised pseudo steps” which would not be sufficient “to prevent further abuses”.

Meleg urged decision-makers to prevent, rather than sanction retroactively, cases of abuse and transform the institutional network so that any such cases could be prevented.

Lola Giay, board member of Egységes Diákfront (United Student Front) said that “the sexual abuse of children that had gone on for years in the Bicske children’s home has ruined the life of children” and “all this could happen because those in power had failed to act despite warnings”.

“A couple of resignations and a legislative amendment is good for a start, but not enough,” she said, announcing the setting up a child protection round-table together with Közös Akarat.

MTI Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák

*********************************************************************************
You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories, via our Facebook page: 
Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoop’s groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary

You can subscribe to our newsletter here:
XpatLoop.com/Newsletters

Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers?
Then just contact us here!