The World Congress of Families XI summit got underway in Budapest today and will continue through the 28th.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the four-day event will take place in several locations throughout Hungary's capital and will push home the importance of traditional family values.
According to the World Congress of Families (WCF) and the International Organization for the Family (IOF), Hungary has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most family-friendly countries in Europe, and there's no better place to hold the summit this year.
During his keynote speech, the prime minister said that Hungary's fertility rate will increase from the current 1.5 percent to 2.1 percent by 2030, and 2018 will be the year for families in Hungary.
Katalin Novák, Hungary’s secretary of state for Youth, Family and International Affairs played a principal part in bringing the congress to Budapest.
"As a politician and a mother of a large family, I am proud on both accounts to be working for the benefit of Hungarian families as part of a government that always takes community values into consideration when making its decisions," Novák said.
"The road to the Budapest Family Summit was a mix of long preparation and passionate work. In the past few years, it gave me great pleasure to discover the wealth of organizations and communities supporting families, working for their interests and it made me proud that Hungarian family policy is referred to as a positive example, a road to follow," she added.
"I trust that during the coming four days, you will hear many valuable thoughts, participate in exciting discussions and enjoy yourselves together with your children," the state secretary concluded.