Tamás Sulyok: Peace is a prerequisite for social development

Peace is a prerequisite for social development, said the Hungarian President in his speech at the Second UN World Summit for Social Development in Doha. In his speech, Tamás Sulyok added that unrest affects the most vulnerable, which is why achieving peace is a goal that humankind has a moral duty to strive for. 

President Sulyok emphasised that Hungary is firmly convinced that the society of the future can only be strong if families are strong. He then pointed out that the family is the first community where people learn what it means to take responsibility for one another. Measures are therefore needed to enable families to live in a safe, stable and supportive environment, the President added.

In his speech, the President warned that we are living in an era in which almost every region of the world is facing social, economic and demographic challenges – climate change, armed conflicts, population decline and population explosion are putting our communities to the test. We must respond effectively to these challenges both within our own societies – that is, at the level of families, small and large communities, and countries – and through international cooperation, Tamás Sulyok added.

The Head of State emphasised Hungary's position, according to which the true measure of development is the opportunities a society offers its people to live a dignified life, and that these opportunities are based on the triad of peace, the rule of law and cooperation. If we strengthen these pillars in our families, communities and nations, we will be able to build a world where solidarity becomes the universal norm, said the Hungarian Head of State.

The President of Hungary emphasised that peace and the rule of law are inseparable; where the rule of law prevails, conflict is replaced by cooperation. The rule of law also plays an extremely important role in social justice, because where the law reaches all, progress belongs to all.

The UN held the World Summit for Social Development for the second time since 1995. At the conference organised in the Qatari capital, delegates from 178 states and international organisations spoke about the need to address key challenges essential for prosperity for all.