Response to interpellations 2024/25:538 and 545 on pride and LGBTQI rights in Hungary
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
M argues that Sweden should be a strong voice for the equal rights of hbtqi persons and that the Hungarian legislation is a serious violation of human rights 1 2. M considers it a priority to support the rights of hbtqi persons and expresses concern for their sexual and reproductive health 2. S argues that Sweden needs to be sharper in its criticism of those who violate the democratic space of hbtqi persons 3. S considers that the government has a good stance but that political action is required when countries violate the European Convention 4. S argues that hbtqi persons stand at the front line in the battle for democracy 4.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam President! In light of the fact that Hungary has introduced legislation that in practice prohibits the organizing of and participation in pride events, Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro has asked me what measures I intend to take so that this leads to tangible consequences for Hungary and how Sweden intends to support the LGBTQ+ movement in the country.
Furthermore, Ulrika Westerlund has asked me what I and the Swedish government are doing to ensure that this summer's pride parade can be held in Budapest and that the right to freely assemble and express one's opinion is also guaranteed to Europe's LGBTQI people.
That Sweden should be a strong voice for the equal rights and opportunities of hbtqi persons in Sweden, in the EU and globally is self-evident. Everyone should be able to love whom they want and be who they want, without fear of reprisals.
I, together with the rest of the government, feel deep concern regarding the situation for LGBTQI persons in Hungary. This is something that I and several of my government colleagues have expressed ourselves on recently. With the new legislation, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are also being restricted in the country. These are human rights guaranteed by, among others, articles 19 and 21 of the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
To restrict both the equal rights and opportunities of LGBTQI persons as well as the freedom of assembly and freedom of expression in this way is, of course, very serious. Hungary, like all EU member states, is obliged to guarantee these rights.
Sweden is actively working within the EU to ensure that all member states respect the EU's common values and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Together with 15 other member states and the European Parliament, Sweden intervened in support of the European Commission in its action against Hungary regarding Hungary's so-called child protection law, which the Commission considered, among other things, to be discriminatory against hbtqi persons.
Sweden's position in these matters is well-known and unchanged. Sweden will also continue to take all opportunities to stand up for hbtqi persons' full enjoyment of human rights in Sweden, in Hungary, throughout the EU and in other places in the world.
Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (S)
Madam President and the Minister for Foreign Affairs! We had the opportunity to debate this issue quite recently. In the situation we find ourselves in regarding just hbtqi rights, I believe it is important that we return to just this question. These are, in fact, things we can no longer take for granted.
Regarding Hungary, we know that Viktor Orbán and his party Fidesz have had an explicit strategy to limit the opportunities of specifically LGBTQI persons to participate in what remains of democracy in Hungary. The EU has initiated infringement proceedings, which Maria Malmer Stenergard herself raised, linked to the ban on depictions of homosexuality and has frozen 20 billion euros in EU grants to the country. Furthermore, Sweden, among others, has reacted forcefully. But Hungary continues with its LGBTQI-hostile agenda, despite the strong reactions.
Sweden has been one of the countries that has marked its position most powerfully. That is good. We need to continue, and I believe we need to become even sharper in our criticism of those who violate LGBTQI people's democratic space and human rights. Because that is what is happening right now, all over the world. Far-right governments and populists spread deliberate lies about LGBTQI people in order to limit their democratic space.
It is an obvious lie that hbtqi persons would demand more or greater rights than everyone else; that is simply not the case. They demand their human rights – such as those many others have without being contradicted. The law that is now coming into force in Hungary is perhaps the clearest example of this. To demonstrate for the right to love whom one wants and to be who one is shall be prohibited. With precision, it is precisely the democratic scope of action for hbtqi persons that is being restricted. If they object, they are asking for too much.
It is an unpleasant and unacceptable development we see in country after country, especially in the European Union. Therefore, Sweden's international voice needs to be stronger than it has been in a long time. It worries me, Madam Speaker, that since this government took office, Sweden has had a jerkiness in its support for LGBTQI organizations worldwide. The government has reduced the proportion of democracy and support programs in a situation where Sweden's commitment should need to be expanded. That was why I, in my interpellation, asked in what way the government intends to support LGBTQI organizations in the country. I did not receive an answer to that question. I asked the same question in my previous interpellation but did not receive any answer then either.
Condemnations of and markings against Hungary's actions are of course important, but if the support is not resourced, there is actually not much hbtqi people in Hungary can do more than thank and bow. If hbtqi people are to be prioritized, long-term support that is also predictable is needed. I would therefore like to know if the Foreign Minister is prepared to take the initiative to ensure that hbtqi organizations in Sweden receive expanded opportunities to have collaborations with Hungarian hbtqi organizations. In light of the situation we find ourselves in internationally, I would also like to know if the government is prepared to work out an hbtqi strategy for foreign policy. We see that more and more countries in and outside Europe – both allies and non-allies – are adopting an hbtqi-hostile stance.
Ulrika Westerlund (MP)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the answer and for the opportunity to have this debate!
The situation in Budapest and Hungary makes me deeply concerned, also on a broader level. For a long time, the development in Europe regarding the rights of hbtqi persons clearly moved forward. It took a long time and required a persistent struggle from the hbtqi movement, but laws were changed and reforms were implemented. Now, over a fairly short period in the recent past, we have seen examples of laws and practices being changed for the worse. Italy attempted a deterioration of the legislation for same-sex parents that would make it impossible for these to be parents together. Recently, a judgment was issued in the United Kingdom that worsened the protection against discrimination for trans persons. At the same time, we see a development in Hungary with gross restrictions of fundamental human rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
Often these restrictions of rights occur with reference to that another group should be protected. The other group is most often children. This is also the case in Hungary, where the so-called child protection law is what, according to Hungary, enables the ban on the pride parade. It is an argumentation that is well recognized from other repressive states in our vicinity; it is perhaps closest to hand to think of the developments in Russia. Also there, the harder repression against the hbtqi community began with reference to the importance of protecting children. It was said that the legislation that prohibited so-called propaganda for hbtqi issues would protect the children.
However, it was clear from the very beginning that the legislation was being used much more broadly than that. I personally participated in a protest at Red Square in Moscow in 2014. It was at the same time as the Olympics in Sochi were being inaugurated. Despite it being late in the evening and a snowstorm, and despite that no children were in sight, we were arrested when we waved our rainbow flags and sang the Russian national anthem. We were released after a couple of hours at the police station; our Russian colleagues had assumed that this was exactly what was going to happen.
Now, more than ten years later, I would naturally not think of participating in anything similar again. The Russian activists who participated in this demonstration, whom I am still in contact with, no longer live in Russia. The development has gone from a supposed protection of children to a total ban on the LGBTQ movement and outright reporting of LGBTQ persons. You can be reported to the police if someone sees you with a rainbow bracelet on the subway. It is no longer possible at all to live as an LGBTQ person in Russia. This has thus occurred during a ten-year period. It has gone incredibly fast, despite the LGBTQ movement's clear resistance initially.
Russia's way of legislating in this area has spread to neighboring countries such as Georgia. In Georgia, a law was introduced in the autumn that is said to promote family values and protect children. Immediately after the introduction, violence against LGBTQI people increased further, and a well-known trans activist was murdered. The possibilities for the LGBTQI movement to operate are severely curtailed, which was already the case previously.
In a time when several states that we previously regarded as allies on issues concerning LGBTQI rights have taken clear steps backward or completely withdrawn, for example the USA, Sweden's role becomes even more important. In Hungary, it has also been explicitly stated that there is now no reason to continue allowing the LGBTQI movement to be held because the USA no longer supports pride.
I am, of course, pleased that the government continues to prioritize LGBTQI rights, and I would like to hear more about how this work is progressing. Is Sweden actively in dialogue with other friendly states? Is it being discussed how we can compensate for the withdrawal of the USA and counteract the effects of this? What does the strategy look like ahead of the parade in June?
I plan to participate on June 28 in Budapest, and I hope that I will have the company of many. Then we shall go there and wave our rainbow flags and celebrate the right to express our opinion.
Carina Ödebrink (S)
Madam President! I am not only a Member of Parliament in this chamber but also the rapporteur for the OSCE committee that handles democracy and human rights. Against that background, I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues for this important debate.
The world today is dramatically changed compared to how it was just 10–15 years ago. Small changes that individually might not capture our attention or make us realize the full consequences become, when added together, large and serious encroachments on human rights that lead to us losing many years of struggle and reforms for all people's equal value and rights. Our won victories for hbtqi people's, women's and other groups' rights have today in many places around the world been rolled back by authoritarian leaders and regimes who, in the pursuit of their own power, play on people's fear and ignorance. The result we see, among other things, in the form of growing homophobia and misogyny.
The Hungarian regime's legislative change means that participants and LGBTQI organizers can be fined and that facial recognition will be used to identify participants. People with the right to exercise their freedom and express their opinions will now be persecuted for this.
I would like to thank the Minister for the answer and appreciate the clarity regarding human rights as well as the importance of Sweden being a strong voice for the equal rights and opportunities of hbtqi persons. But, Madam Speaker, it is not enough to express concern, direct criticism, and make statements about the importance of standing up for the EU's core values and countries' commitments in the UN Declaration and the European Convention. If countries like Hungary consistently ignore ensuring human rights, a even clearer language and consequences that actually bite on the Hungarian regime are required – not just criticism.
Is there a plan for continued measures together with other countries? Does the government intend to act within the EU's rule of law mechanism? What has the minister and the government done beyond what was described in the interpellation answer, and what does the government plan to do moving forward? I truly stand behind the questions to the minister that my two colleagues previously asked.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! Initially, I would like to thank the interpellants for their commitment to this issue, which is incredibly important. It is the second time in a short period that I am here in the chamber to debate the same subject. It is clear that this is an issue that affects many. I am glad about that, and we must really ensure that we continue to keep these issues high on the agenda.
Sweden is often regarded as a pioneer in issues concerning human rights and has an important role to play on the international arena. We must not only work for continued improvement of the situation for hbtqi persons in our own country but also support and inspire other countries to follow suit.
It is completely obvious when one looks at the developments in Hungary, but also around the world, that we can never take victories and successes in this area for granted; they must be won over and over again. The situation for LGBTQI people in Hungary rightly evokes very strong feelings across Europe, and with the new legislation, the situation is further worsened.
To restrict in this way both the equal rights and opportunities of LGBTQI persons as well as the freedom of assembly and freedom of expression is, of course, very serious regardless of where in the world it occurs, but in the EU we have high requirements for the member states that they are expected to live up to. It is about human rights that are guaranteed in, among others, the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights and in the European Convention. Hungary, like all EU member states, is obliged to guarantee these rights.
Sweden has, both through diplomatic channels and in public statements, including in the Council of Europe, joined the joint statements where Hungary is criticized for the decision to practically ban pride. I and several government colleagues have also publicly expressed our concern over the situation.
Sweden has a very clear position, and I am pleased that there is broad support behind it. We are strong in our support for human rights, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and we will continue with this.
Regarding Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro's question, I focused in the answer on what we are doing to stop the development we see in Hungary, and thus, as I perceive it, we also support the LGBTQI movement in Hungary, among other things by intervening in the goal that I mentioned. But it is clear that we also have a very large international commitment in these issues.
During several different trips, I have met people who in different ways receive support to advocate for the rights of LGBTQI people, often through smaller organizations in respective countries. This is something that I believe is still an enormous priority, but it is above all my colleague, the Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation, who is responsible for it.
A question also came up as to whether an analysis is being conducted on how we can compensate for the loss that occurs now when the USA is very drastically restructuring its support through USAID. Such an analysis is being conducted. It is clear that it is not possible for Sweden to make up for it, but we will try to coordinate and do our very best.
We are concerned in this area, and we are also concerned regarding, for example, sexual and reproductive health. We will return with more information on the matter.
Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the answer!
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has taken a good stance on these issues, and I think the Swedish government has signaled in a good way. But my question was about what additional measures the government can take.
When it comes to support programs, we have none in Hungary, because Hungary is not an aid country. This means that the government may need to adjust, for example, the Swedish embassy's mandate in Hungary. We see that violations are occurring systematically and that Hungary does not care about the markings that the EU and Sweden have made. Therefore, my question was what additional measures the Swedish government can take. My view is that if we are to be credible in our marking, it needs to happen through political action. I believe that Sweden needs to be the leading country in the EU to do this.
It is clear that problems can arise when one pursues a foreign policy that goes against a member state in the EU, but I mean that one must do more when countries repeatedly violate the European Convention and the EU Charter. Then one must use all the channels one has. I think that one owes hbtqi-persons in Hungary just this.
In my previous interpellation on this and in the response, reference was made to the LGBTQI action plan that the government has developed. I want to inform the Chamber that in the action plan, which is 44 pages long, there is one page dedicated to precisely that international commitment that Sweden is to have. Nothing is specified. What is written is that one will be active and work with the equality strategy that exists in the EU for LGBTQI rights.
We can observe that since the strategy was adopted in 2020, depictions of homosexuality and even pride have been banned in Hungary. LGBT-free zones have been introduced in Poland. In the USA, we have a president who denies trans people the right to healthcare. The reason I bring this up is that the equality strategy is intended to work globally, not just within the EU. Now, a new strategy is being developed.
With reference to the action plan that the government has presented, Madam Speaker, and that great importance is placed on the EU's equality strategy, I would like to know if the Minister for Foreign Affairs has had dialogues and what inputs Sweden has in the strategy that is being developed and which will be presented shortly.
In the countries I have described, there is a common thread, and that is that they are all ruled by, or have been ruled by, far-right right-wing populists who have done everything they can to limit the scope of action and human rights of LGBTQI persons. They are part of a far-right political movement that has used precisely LGBTQI persons as scapegoats in their pursuit of more power and an increasingly authoritarian society.
I think it is obvious that LGBTQI people stand at the front line in the battle for democracy. The concern that this will also spread to Sweden is justified, I think, because the Sweden Democrats have close contacts with the parties in Hungary, Poland, USA, Italy and many other countries that have introduced restrictions specifically for LGBTQI people.
It is clear that this creates concern among the country's LGBTQI people. This is not coming from the government, Madam Speaker. Therefore, I want to know how Maria Malmer Stenergard intends to work so that the Sweden Democrats do not get to dictate the conditions for LGBTQI people's lives in Sweden and internationally, and whether she can understand the concern that exists among the country's LGBTQI people when the government is now cooperating with Fidesz, its former sister party.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.