From May 23-25, 2022, youth leaders from both sides of the Atlantic gathered in Budapest, Hungary, to participate in the Youth Program of the 4th Transatlantic Summit of the Political Network for Values.

Involved in civil society, political parties, universities, or simply active in their everyday life, they exchanged ideas on the future they want for both their continents, Europe and America, in favour of life, family and freedom.

They concluded these two days by the publication of a decalogue to provide the cornerstone ideas they want to offer to politicians and civil society leaders for life, family and freedom:

1. The contribution of the youth for freer, more just, and democratic societies;
2. The importance to support families, the nucleus of society, for stronger communities;
3. The commitment for the self-sufficiency of less developed areas to avoid ideological agenda;
4. The promotion of justice, equity and freedom within democratic societies respectful of national identities and sovereignty;
5. The right of every person to freedom of conscience and expression when it comes to matters related to human sexuality, based on the intrinsic differences between men and women and the beauty of their complementarity;
6. The family, business, church and other intermediary bodies that make up for the social fabric are crucial for real economic growth and democracy;
7. The promotion of human rights to protect the dignity of human life, from conception to natural death;
8. The commitment to appreciate all life, with a special care for persons with disability, pregnant women, the unborn, people living in poverty or in any situation of vulnerability;
9. Decision-makers of international cooperations should be accountable, transparent and required to decide only on behalf of citizens of their countries, caring for their real needs;
10. The care for the protection of the environment should never be at the expense of human life, but in favour of sustainable human societies.

Committed to be dynamic, unapologetic and enthusiastic promoters of the common good, they will continue to preserve and defend their values in their respective countries “for a full respect for human dignity, with the person, in its spiritual, physical, and psychological dimension, at its center”.

26th of May 2022, Budapest,

Read the statement:

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Budapest Youth Declaration

GUIDED by the principles of human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity and solidarity, the promotion of participation, the search for truth, freedom, justice, and peace, we, the youth of two continents (America and Europe), consider the points of the following decalogue necessary to carry out, for a better future in our respective regions for life, family and freedom:

1. WE RECOGNIZE that, as bearers of principles and values, we young people have the duty to influence the construction of freer, more just and democratic societies;

2. WE AFFIRM that the family, as the nucleus and basis of society, must be recognized for its function and promoted as the best educational, social, civic and moral training ground; Therefore, it is essential to formulate public policies with a pro-family perspective to consolidate the well-being and development of our continents. Having solid families will lead us to having committed citizens and stronger societies;

3. WE CALL for a real commitment to the economic development of often overlooked, neglected, less developed areas for them to become self-sufficient and entrepreneurial, independent of political assistance programs that can be used for ideological purposes or political control;

4. WE CALL for the promotion of democratic societies that value ​​such principles as justice, equity and freedom, respecting national identities, sovereignty and participation mechanisms that involve civil society organizations from all perspectives;

5. WE AFFIRM that every man and woman has the right to the pursuit of truth, freedom of thought, conscience and religion. We condemn any ideological agenda regarding human sexuality that threatens such fundamental rights. We also reaffirm the intrinsic differences between man and woman and the beauty of their complementarity as a richness;

6. WE RECOGNIZE that there can be no economic growth, no real democracy without strong intermediate bodies. We affirm the value of institutions such as family associations, businesses, Church and others that make up the social structure;

7. WE AFFIRM that respect for human rights is the fundamental requisite to protect the dignity of human life, which starts at conception and lasts until natural death; ideological impositions and agendas, like euthanasia, and abortion, instead of protecting this dignity, violate it;

8. WE CALL for a commitment to actions that guarantee the human rights of persons with disabilities, pregnant women, the unborn, people living in poverty, and young people in vulnerable situations. By promoting a culture of charity and care for others, we will overcome the inertia of violence, death and discrimination that threaten our societies;

9. WE OBSERVE that international cooperation is at stake today; citizens do not perceive as good the strategies generated by unaccountable and untransparent bureacracies, indirectly appointed and not directly elected bodies, distant decision-makers who forget that they decide, not instead of us, but rather on behalf of us. This is why international leaders should be required to have a more concrete idea about the real needs of the citizens of their countries;

10. WE INVITE all social actors to carry out actions to favor and protect the environment, but never at the expense of human life. We encourage every person to have concern for building a sustainable future for all generations;

Toward a better future for our regions with full respect for human dignity, with the person, in his spiritual, physical, and psychological dimensions, at its center. For Life, Family, and Freedom.

May, 27, 2022.