Today, Christianity is the most persecuted religious group globally. According to the relevant statistics, more than 245 million suffer discrimination because of their Christian faith, that is, freedom of religion and of conscience are not among their guaranteed human rights. The figures for the severest form of persecution are astonishingly high: in 2018, more than 4100 Christians were murdered because of their faith.
Persecution contributes to intensifying mass migration. The persecution of Christians in our days indicates complex processes (lack of religious freedom, intolerance, demographic problems, right of women, destruction of the values of the past) that can influence the future of Hungary and of Europe, the preservation of our identity and socio-cultural identity, in the long term. The Hungarian government considers it important to draw attention to these trends, in order to promote the improvement of the circumstances of Christians persecuted in the Middle East and at other points of the world.
In the view of the government of Hungary, the Christian culture of Europe, one of its founding pillars, needs to be protected, otherwise todayÕs Europe, the European form of life, will come to an end.
Aggressive attacks, acts of terrorism committed for religious reasons that have flared up in recent years threaten the historical and religious traditions of the world and consequently of Hungary. The Hungarian government has recognised the danger threatening Christian culture, the basis of western civilisation; therefore, it considers the protection of Christian communities and the families living in such communities most important.
Hungary had been subjected to high migration pressure from the start of the migration crisis of 2015 to the closure of the migration route on the West Balkans; support and assistance operations governed by the principle of on-site assistance played a major role in dealing with that phenomenon. According to the Hungarian government, real assistance to people forced to flee their homeland means establishing the pre-conditions of their staying in place in their homeland. To reduce migration pressure on Hungary and Europe, we must contribute to helping the persecuted communities, the victims of disasters, and to improving the conditions of living of people in need in the framework of our international development policy and humanitarian aid activity.
The population of Hungary will take an active part, commensurate with its size and economic viability, in the international development cooperation and international humanitarian aid efforts. In addition to the basic goals of international development policy (poverty reduction, sustainable development, catching up), Hungary wishes to demonstrate its solidarity to the general international public in a deliberate and visible way.
The Hungarian government wants to put in the foreground the practice of halting the migration processes first and foremost by providing assistance at the starting point. Help provided in these countries can promote staying in place and even strengthen their stability.
We have recognised the necessity of creating a programme with the aim and task of providing support on human rights grounds to Christian, Yezidi and other persecuted minority groups living in developing countries, which frequently become the targets of crimes against humanity committed by extremist, fundamentalist religious groups. It is important for Hungary to take an active part in the international struggle waged for the free exercise of religion and for the freedom of conscience.