At the end of 2019 the II. International Conference on Christian Persecution was held in Budapest, Hungary, where realigious leaders and experts gathered from all around the world to discuss and find solutions to Christian persecution.

The Hungary Helps Agency held its first side event on the closing day of the II. International Conference on the Christian Persecution. The program was opened by H. E. Georg Habsburg-Lothringen, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Hungary.

His Excellency told that Hungary gives hope to the people of the crisis zones of the world and emphasized that the extension of the „Hungarian model” of aid-provision into an international cooperation could serve the people in need more effectively.

Following this opening speech, a short film was presented, sponsored by partners, the 4Ig and the DoTo System. The video demonstrated how the modern technology and digitalization  open new perspectives in the humanitarian sphere: modern disaster-forecasting, supporting-, as well as development- and process monitoring systems can help  actors achieve their goals and meet their accountability requirements.

That was followed by a panel discussion led by Mr. Gábor Márki, Director General of the Hungary Helps Agency. Our distinguished panelists were:

– Ms. Lucia Kišš, Director of Slovak Aid, who spoke about the challenges and opportunities of the EU-fundraising, as well about the prospects of a possible cooperation among the Visegrád-countries.

– Mr. Evžen Diviš, Regional leader of the Czech Caritas, who paid attention to the importance of strategic planning of humanitarian aid on the field.

– Mr. Tore Svenning, former official of the International Red Cross, who spoke about the constructive cooperation between the national agencies and NGOs.

– Mr. Stephen Rasche, Director of the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, who spoke about the work of the international community in Iraq, highlighting Hungary’s role.

– Mr. Andrew Walther, Head of Communication and Strategic Planning of the Knights of Columbus

The panel discussion was closed by questions of the audience.

After that, Baroness Caroline Cox, Member of the UK House of Lords and founder & CEO of the Human Aid Relief Trust gave her the closing remarks.

After the official closing of the event, Ms. Sylvia Ibrahim (Scholarship-holder at the University of Pécs) presented  the speakers with the symbol of peace, a hand-made ceramic dove.

You can read a detailed report from the Budapester Zeitung in German here.

Click here for more about Hungary Helps.

Photo: hungaryhelps.gov.hu