Nineteen embassies in Budapest issued a joint statement on Thursday to express support for, and solidarity with, Hungary’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, on the occasion of the Budapest Pride Festival now under way.
“Mindful of the violence which has been directed against this event in the past, we support the right of these persons to use this traditional occasion to march together to express themselves peacefully and lawfully,” the statement said.
“Today, many individuals face discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Our governments seek to combat such discrimination by promoting the human rights of all people, regardless of their background,” the statement added.
The Pride March, a traditional event of the festival, is set to take place on Saturday, with participants walking from Heroes Square to Parliament. In recent years, violent counter-demonstrators made attempts to disrupt the march, throwing stones and clashing with police.
Governments are obliged to “protect all citizens from violence and to ensure that all individuals enjoy equal opportunities,” said the joint statement issued by the embassies of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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