Orbán challenger leads protest calling for child protection after sexual abuse scandal in Hungary

BUDAPEST PROTEST DEMANDS CHILD PROTECTION REFORM AND GOVERNMENT RESIGNATION

An aspiring challenger to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán renewed his calls for change on Friday as he led a protest of several thousand people demanding a more robust child protection system and the resignation of Orbán’s government.

Protest for Child Protection and Government Resignation

• The demonstrators gathered outside Hungary’s Interior Ministry in Budapest.
• They called for the resignation of Sándor Pintér, the head of the Interior Ministry, over his failure to prevent the sexual abuse of children in state-run institutions.
• This issue has caused political upheaval in Hungary in recent months.

Peter Magyar, a 43-year-old lawyer and a new voice of opposition to Hungary’s right-wing government, criticized Orbán’s portrayal of himself as a defender of families and traditional values. He called for genuine reforms to address child welfare.

Magyar’s Criticism of Orbán’s Government

• Magyar accused the government of lying about being family-friendly, Christian, and child-friendly.
• He emphasized that the government’s actions contradict its claims.

This demonstration is the latest in a series of large anti-government protests organized by Magyar in recent weeks. It coincides with his campaign for the upcoming European Union elections in June with his new party, Respect and Freedom (TISZA). Magyar has called for Orbán and his government to step down, offering a third option for Hungarians disillusioned by both Orbán’s 14 years of governance and Hungary’s fragmented and ineffectual opposition parties.

Magyar’s Political Background

• Magyar was previously a member of Orbán’s Fidesz party and the ex-husband of former justice minister and Orbán ally Judit Varga.
• He gained prominence when he publicly accused the government of corruption and cronyism following a child sexual abuse scandal that led to the resignations of the president and justice minister in February.

The scandal involved a presidential pardon issued by Katalin Novák, the former president, to a man convicted of trying to cover up child sexual abuse in a rural youth home. This incident challenged Orbán’s image as a Christian conservative protecting families and children from what he calls “LGBTQ propaganda.”

Criticism of Hungary’s Child Protection Policies

• Magyar criticized Hungary’s child protection policies for conflating homosexuality with pedophilia and infringing upon the rights of sexual minorities.
• He demanded that Orbán apologize to the survivors of abuse in the orphanage.

While Hungary’s government dismissed Magyar as an opportunist seeking personal gain after his divorce with the former justice minister, his message has resonated with many. Opinion polls indicate that his new party is likely to gain seats in the European Parliament in the upcoming elections.

László Horváth Etele, one of the demonstrators, believes that Magyar is capable of challenging Orbán and disrupting the opposition parties that have been unable to unseat him for 14 years.

Hope for Change in Hungarian Politics

• Etele believes that a change in the opposition is necessary to defeat the current government.
• He suggests that new challengers should be given a chance if the current opposition continues to lose repeatedly.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The issues highlighted in the article are related to child protection, sexual abuse, and government accountability. These issues align with the SDGs mentioned above, which aim to ensure good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities, and peace, justice, and strong institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
• SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
• SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
• SDG 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
• SDG 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.

Based on the article’s content, these specific targets are relevant to the issues discussed, including ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health services, promoting sustainable development through education, eliminating violence against women and girls, reducing inequalities, and developing accountable institutions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 3.7: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.
• Indicator for SDG 4.7: Proportion of schools with access to adapted infrastructure and materials for students with disabilities.
• Indicator for SDG 5.2: Proportion of women and girls subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
• Indicator for SDG 10.3: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
• Indicator for SDG 16.6: Proportion of population satisfied with their last experience of public services.

The article does not explicitly mention indicators, but these indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. They provide measurable criteria to assess the achievement of the targets related to sexual and reproductive health, inclusive education, violence against women, reducing discrimination, and public service satisfaction.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: apnews.com

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