Key points:
- The European Court of Justice has ordered Hungary to immediately repeal the 2021 law.
- Hungary has been officially found guilty of violating the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights for the first time.
- The judges confirmed that the law unlawfully links the LGBTQ+ community to criminal offenses.
- The decision was made following the defeat of Viktor Orbán’s party in the parliamentary elections.
- The Hungarian government can no longer ban content or mass events based on this law.
The European Court of Justice has issued a historic ruling against Hungary, finding its 2021 “child protection” law to be contrary to democratic principles, according to Euronews. Judges in Luxembourg ruled that the legislation promoted by Viktor Orbán openly discriminates against the LGBTQ+ community. This decision marks the first time in the history of the European Union that an entire country has been officially found to be in violation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The main objection raised by the court concerns the ban on depicting LGBTQ+ themes in media and literature intended for minors. As a result of this law, TV series disappeared from Hungarian airwaves, and bookstores were forced to hide certain publications. The court emphasized that such regulations do not merely restrict information but literally stigmatize people. What outraged the judges most was that the law’s title effectively draws a parallel between a person’s sexual orientation and pedophilia, provoking aggression in society.
This legal blow came during a period of political upheaval in the country. Recently, Orbán’s Fidesz party lost the election to the opposition Tisa movement, and the current government is already preparing to step down. The court rejects Budapest’s arguments about “protecting national identity,” emphasizing that the right to privacy and freedom of speech take precedence over political manipulation. Hungary must immediately remove these provisions from its legislation.
Read also:
Reintegration of veterans in Ukraine is changing with a focus on women and LGBTIQ+ military personnel
