Attacks on Social Work - Why Solidarity with Hungary's Social Work Matters

Since 2010, Hungary's government has been building an authoritarian system under the label of "illiberal democracy." Its principles contradict the core values of social work. Social workers have repeatedly been pressured to act against homeless people, the poor, and LGBTQ+ communities.

In 2022, the government introduced a new concept of "care policy," aiming to replace social work with ideologically controlled training programs starting in 2024. At the same time, civil society organizations – including the Hungarian Association of Social Workers – are being defamed as "foreign agents." In 2025, a state agency published a list of "enemies of the nation," targeting organizations advocating for minority rights and democratic values.

The attacks on Hungarian NGOs and the LGBTQ+ community show how quickly democracy and social justice can be undermined. This event sheds light on current developments and calls for international solidarity – because what is happening in Hungary could happen elsewhere, too.

Speakers

Katalin Szoboszlai (3SZ)
Sandor Meleg (SzMMe)

23 May 2025, 6 p.m. CET

The event takes place in the context of the project SoFRiED - Social Work and the Far Right in European Democracies. The research project SoFRiED, funded by the Hans-Böckler-Foundation, started in February 2025 with social work researchers from Hungary, University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten and University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg . The project will run for two years.

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