UN Urges Hungary to Repeal Law Banning Pride Events

Hungary's parliament has passed a controversial law banning pride events and allowing authorities to impose fines on participants, a move Prime Minister Viktor Orban argues is necessary to protect children from harmful influences. The legislation, which passed with a vote of 136-27, has sparked widespread protests, with opposition lawmakers using smoke bombs during the parliamentary session. The United Nations and various human rights organizations have condemned the law as a violation of basic rights and an arbitrary restriction on freedom of expression and assembly. Critics, including LGBTQ+ activists, assert that the law perpetuates discrimination and marginalizes an already vulnerable community. Despite the backlash, Orban has dismissed the criticisms as part of a broader 'woke ideology' agenda, insisting that Hungary will not succumb to foreign pressures. Organizers of Budapest Pride have vowed to continue their celebrations, declaring the law an attack on their fundamental rights.