Museum of Fine Arts Budapest

14-16 September 2023

Presidential Welcome

On the occasion of the 5th Budapest Demographic Summit, I welcome all family-friendly thinkers and decision-makers to Budapest, Hungary, where we believe that strong families are the fundamental guarantee of our security.

Every two years since 2015, the Budapest Demographic Summit has been the forum where politicians, church leaders, experts, the representatives of science, the corporate sector and the media discuss the most timely and important issues affecting families.

The demographic crisis continues to threaten many countries, while the war in Ukraine and the resulting economic and energy crisis pose a global challenge to the physical, financial and emotional security of families. This is why demography and security is the central theme of this year's summit.

Venue

Museum of Fine Arts Budapest

1146 Budapest, Dózsa György út 41., Hungary

Museum of Fine Arts Budapest

Mission Statement

Family: The Key to Security

In the autumn of 2023, the Budapest Demographic Summit (BDS) will put the focus on families for the fifth time. BDS – as a biannual forum – is a unique opportunity that brings together heads of state and government, policy makers, church and civic leaders, key actors of academia and the media to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing families.

Conference day 1

Conference day 2

  • Day 114 September
  • Day 215 September
  • Family Festival16 September

Program

14 September

Opening cultural performance

The Zsuráfszky family with children's choir - Urbán Verbunk

Blessing of the event by the Churches

In the tradition of past events, the Heads of the four historical Churches of Hungary (Catholic, Reformed, Evangelical-Lutheran, Jewish) will bless the event.

  • Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church
  • Péter Erdő, Cardinal, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Catholic Church of Hungary
  • Zoltán Balog, Bishop, Pastoral President of the Synod, Reformed Church of Hungary
  • Péter Kondor, Bishop, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hungary
  • Slomó Köves, Chief Rabbi, United Jewish Congregation of Hungary
Jordan B. Peterson, clinical psychologist, Canada (keynote presentation)

High level session – „Family is the key to security”

  • Katalin Novák, President, Hungary
  • Rumen Radev, President, Republic of Bulgaria
  • Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister, Republic of Italy
  • Philip Isdor Mpango, Vice President, United Republic of Tanzania
  • Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister, Hungary
Lunch break

Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Azerbaijan (keynote presentation)

Zeljka Cvijanovic, Serb Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (keynote presentation)

Professional panel discussion – War and peace – aspects of security from the perspective of families

In recent years, the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and the economic difficulties on a global scale have shattered families’ sense of security. Physically, materially and spiritually, our communities are facing new challenges. How does the Church think about war and peace? And how does the security policy expert? What can the political decision maker do and how does the philosopher see the situation which has emerged? The session will seek answers to these questions, among others.

  • Moderator: Gladden Pappin, President, Hungarian Institute of International Affairs
  • Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church
  • Christiaan Alting von Geusau, President, International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN), Kingdom of the Netherlands
  • Robert C. Castel, security policy expert
  • Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defence, Hungary
James Heckman, Nobel Memorial Prize-winning economist, United States of America (keynote presentation)

Coffee break

Professional panel discussion – Science and demography

  • Moderator: Kinga Kenyeres, Chief Executive Officer, Századvég Gazdaságkutató Zrt., Hungary
  • Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi, Executive Director, Doha International Family Institute (DIFI)
  • Harry Benson, Director of Research, Marriage Foundation, United Kingdom
  • Montserrat Gas Aixendri, Director, Institute of Family Studies, Barcelona, Kingdom of Spain
  • Pat Fagan, Director, Marriage and Religion Research Institute, United States of America
  • Prof. Dr. Michał A. Michalski, Assistant Professor, Adam Mickiewicz University, Republic of Poland
Professional panel discussion – NGOs in the service of families

Demographers, researchers, the leaders of Hungarian and foreign family organisations will share their thoughts on the importance of the family in everyday life, in the growth of nations and in handing down values.

  • Moderator: Anna Nagy, President of the Board, Single Parent Centre Foundation, Hungary
  • Varro Vooglaid, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Foundation for the Protection of Family and Tradition (SAPTK), Republic of Estonia
  • Katalin Kardosné Gyurkó, President, National Association of Large Families, Hungary
  • Vincenzo Bassi, President, Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE). Republic of Italy
  • Regina Maroncelli, President, European Large Families Confederation (ELFAC), Republic of Italy
  • Radoslaw Waszkiewicz, President, Federation of Large Families in Poland, Republic of Poland
  • Ignacio Socias, Director, International Federation for Family Development (IFFD), Kingdom of Spain
Closing of Day 1 of the Conference

End of Day 1

Gala dinner

Retrospective

Hungary is a family-friendly country, the first in the world to proclaim that the solution to the demographic crisis affecting much of the world lies in strengthening families. In a decade, a unique and distinctive Hungarian model has been built, focusing on the protection of life (enshrined in the constitution), strengthening family values and traditional communities, supporting family formation and childbearing, and promoting a family-friendly mindset.

The "Hungarian model" has become a reference point in the world, as we have been able to prove that a family-centred approach can produce effective and real results. Childbearing and marriage rates have risen at the highest rate among EU Member States, divorce rates have fallen to a six-decade low and the number of abortions has also fallen significantly.

Speakers
PERSON.NAME.NOVAK

Szeptember 14.
11:00
PERSON.NAME.ORBAN

Szeptember 14.
11:00
PERSON.NAME.VUCIC

Szeptember 14.
11:00
PERSON.NAME.MELONI

Szeptember 14.
11:00
PERSON.NAME.RUMEN

Szeptember 14.
11:00
PERSON.NAME.ISDOR

Szeptember 14.
11:00
Sahiba Gafarova

Szeptember 14.
13:50
Zeljka Cvijanovic

Szeptember 14.
14:10
PERSON.NAME.ERDO

Szeptember 14.
10:10
PERSON.NAME.BALOG

Szeptember 14.
10:10
PERSON.NAME.KOVES

Szeptember 14.
10:10
PERSON.NAME.KONDOR

Szeptember 14.
10:10
PERSON.NAME.IGNAC

Szeptember 14.
14:30
PERSON.NAME.CSAK

Szeptember 15.
09:30
PERSON.NAME.SZALAY

Szeptember 14.
14:30
PERSON.NAME.KISIC

Szeptember 15.
09:30
PERSON.NAME.JANEZ

Szeptember 15.
09:30
PERSON.NAME.BALAYEVA

Szeptember 15.
09:30
PERSON.NAME.MAHINUR

Szeptember 15.
09:30
PERSON.NAME.MARIAM

Szeptember 15.
09:30
PERSON.NAME.MAITHA

Szeptember 15.
09:15
Erwin Ronquillo

Szeptember 15.
09:30
PERSON.NAME.AMNA

Szeptember 14.
09:30
Nick Vujicic

Szeptember 15.
16:20
Jordan B. Peterson

Szeptember 14.
10:25
James Heckman

Szeptember 14.
15:20
Gad Saad

Szeptember 14.
16:50
PERSON.NAME.FREUND

Szeptember 15.
11:20
Gladden Pappin

Szeptember 14.
14:30
Christiaan Alting von Geusau

Szeptember 14.
14:30
Robert C. Castel

Szeptember 14.
14:30
PERSON.NAME.TIBOLLO

Szeptember 14.
14:30
PERSON.NAME.KINGA

Szeptember 14.
16:00
Sharifa Noaman Al Emadi

Szeptember 14.
15:50
Harry Benson

Szeptember 14.
15:50
Montserrat Gas

Szeptember 14.
15:50
Pat Fagan

Szeptember 14.
15:50
Michał A. Michalski

Szeptember 14.
15:50
PERSON.NAME.ANNA

Szeptember 14.
17:20
Varro Vooglaid

Szeptember 14.
17:20
PERSON.NAME.KATA

Szeptember 14.
17:20
Vincenzo Bassi

Szeptember 14.
17:20
Regina Maroncelli

Szeptember 14.
17:20
Radoslaw Waszkiewicz

Szeptember 14.
17:20
Ignacio Socias

Szeptember 14.
17:20
PERSON.NAME.AGNES

Szeptember 15.
9:30
Maciej Świrski

Szeptember 15.
11:45
PERSON.NAME.PETRA

Szeptember 15.
11:45
Wolfgang Lutz

Szeptember 15.
11:45
Joanna Spiteri

Szeptember 15.
11:45
PERSON.NAME.BORSOS

Szeptember 15.
11:45
George A. Tilesch

Szeptember 15.
12:30
Amir Mosavi

Szeptember 15.
12:30
Obianuju Ekeocha

Szeptember 15 .
14:30
Valerie Huber

Szeptember 15.
14:30
PERSON.NAME.TUNDE

Szeptember 15.
14:30
Madeleine Wallin

Szeptember 15.
14:30
Jane Wathuta

Szeptember 15.
14:30
Joanna Williams

Szeptember 15.
15:25
Andreas Antonius Maria Kinneging

Szeptember 15.
15:25
Sharon Slater

Szeptember 15.
15:25
Patrick Deneen

Szeptember 15.
15:25
Paul Coleman

Szeptember 15.
15:25