Hungarian Government Delegation to Attend Feb. 2nd National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC

Contact: Larry Jacobs, Managing Director, World Congress of Families, 815-997-7106, ljacobs@profam.org
 
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- The World Congress of Families (WCF) is proud to announce that World Congress of Families XI will take place in Budapest, Hungary, May 24-28, 2017.  Under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most family-friendly countries in Europe.

WCF Managing Director Larry Jacobs observed: "World Congress of Families is excited about our Budapest Congress and all of the exciting events during the 5 days of the Budapest Family Summit.  Budapest is a beautiful, historic city and Hungary has demonstrated its strategic leadership as an advocate for the natural family in Europe. We believe that this Congress will strengthen our existing international network and help launch a new global pro-family alliance of countries dedicated to defending marriage, the family and the sanctity of human life.  This new declaration and alliance, the Budapest Covenant, will be unveiled at WCF XI.

The local organizing committee of WCF XI is led by Mrs. Katalin Novak, Hungary's Secretary of State for Youth, Family and International Affairs under the government's Ministry of Human Resources headed by Hungarian Cabinet Minister, Zoltan Balog.  As a further demonstration of Hungary's commitment to family and faith, Minister Balog will lead a government delegation from Hungary that includes embassy officials and key members of the Hungarian Parliament that will attend tomorrow's National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.

The Theme of World Congress of Families XI, Budapest Family Summit, is: Building Family-Friendly Nations: Making Families Strong Again. Most sessions will take place at the Budapest Congress Center with 3,000 delegates and attendees expected.  Special sessions at WCF XI will include a Global Forum for Youth and Emerging Leaders, A Global Forum for Business Leaders, Political Leaders.

The Budapest Family Summit will open with the Budapest Demographic Forum and will conclude on Sunday, May 28th with a World Congress of Families "Viva Familia" Family Festival and Parade starting at Lajos Kossuth Square.  Prime Minister Victor Orban, Zoltan Balog, Katlin Novak, WCF Founder Allan Carlson and WCF President Brian Brown are expected to address the thousands of pro-family advocates gathered in the streets of Budapest to celebrate the natural family.  The parade will be led by WCF, Hungarian state representatives, representatives of public organizations, families, children, and young people in traditional folk costumes. The assemblage will march with flags, signs and balloons to the Basilica where participants will receive blessings and release the balloons with a cry of "Viva Familia!"

Hungary's leadership in defense of family, life, and Christianity is well known in Europe.  The adoption of key provisions in the Hungarian Constitution in 2011 defining marriage between a man and a woman and protecting human life from conception to natural death have made the Orban government the hero of pro-family and pro-life leaders from all over the world.  Hungary's leadership is fully committed to family friendly governance and has recently launched a new national motto, "Hungary, the Family Friendly Country."

The first World Congress of Families was held in Prague in 1997, two years after WCF was founded by Dr. Allan Carlson following a trip to Moscow, Russia.  Subsequent Congresses have been held in Geneva (1999), Mexico City (2004), Warsaw (2007), Amsterdam (2009), Madrid (2012), Sydney (2013), Salt Lake City (2015) and Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia (2016).  Each Congress is unique, with its own theme to celebrate the Natural Family and discuss challenges facing families today, at the national, regional and international levels. 

WCF delegates affirm the Natural Family as the fundamental and sustainable unit of society and affirm the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), including Article 16, which states that "the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state."  WCF also recognizes the sanctity and dignity of every human person from conception to natural death.  Delegates at WCF include a wide range of leaders, activists, scholars, researchers, clergy, politicians, business executives, professionals, parents, and youth.

The World Congress of Families maintains a network of leaders from more than 80 countries around the world who have helped inspire and coordinate the international pro-family movement.  World Congress of Families is a project of the International Organization for the Family (IOF) which unites and equips leaders worldwide to promote the natural family.  IOF has recently launched the Cape Town Declaration, where supporters of marriage and family are invited to stand up and sign this Universal Declaration for the Family and Marriage: opusf.co/2hwBhRg.   More information is available at www.profam.org and www.worldcongress.org.