Periodic Report Hungary

Since 2008 - the ratification of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (hereinafter referred to as the 'Convention' - the Hungarian state has made attempts to take measures to promote the objectives of the Convention in Hungary and abroad to the greatest degree that its financial and human resources allow. Before the conclusion of the Convention, the Hungarian Parliament adopted acts that created the framework and legislative background of the protection of cultural diversity, to preserve and maintain the traditions of minorities.

With the ratification of the Convention, Hungary declared that it continues to regard cultural diversity as a priority and as a path to the future and to sustainable development.

Therefore, Hungary has taken several measures in Hungary and abroad as well to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions and to contribute to intercultural dialogue. Measures taken in Hungary include the preparation of the draft law on traditional Hungarian products and its submission to the Hungarian Parliament, the reform and the extension of the financial resources of the National Cultural Fund, the prioritization of cultural diversity during Hungary's EU presidency, the adoption of the Act on World Heritage, the amendment of the Act on the Protection of Cultural Heritage with regard to memorial sites or the multichannel support of minorities living in Hungary and the Hungarian minority living abroad. With regard to international cooperation, an insight into the results of Hungarian cultural diplomacy and into the cultural dimension of the Visegrad Cooperation is given in the section below.

The Hungarian state has always promoted the involvement of NGOs in political decision making; therefore, it negotiated with the representatives of NGOs about the measures taken in line with the provisions of the Convention. In Hungary, the institutional hub of the dialogue between the state and NGOs about the subjects of the Convention is the National Cultural Fund.  

The implementation of the provisions of the Convention involves a challenge: Hungary had to find a balance where it complies with its obligations that derive from the provisions of the Convention and plays an active role in the protection of global cultural diversity, while, on the other hand, makes commitments that fall in line with its financial resources, and harmonizes its external policy objectives with the provisions of the Convention.