REALity   Volume XXXVI  Issue No. 4  April 2017

World Congress of Families XI will take place in the beautiful, historic city of Budapest, Hungary, on May 25 to 28, 2017.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most family-friendly countries in Europe. The local organizing committee is led by Mrs. Katalin Novak, Hungary’s Secretary of State for Youth, Family and International Affairs under the government’s Ministry of Human Capacities headed by Hungarian Cabinet Minister, Zoltan Balog.  At the congress he will lead a government delegation including embassy officials and key members of the Hungarian Parliament.

The theme of this World Congress is “Building Family-Friendly Nations: Making Families Strong Again.”  Most sessions will take place at the Budapest Congress Center.  Plenary sessions will be in The Congress Hall, with a capacity of 3,000.  Concurrent sessions will be conducted in one of four rooms.  Congress sessions will also be broadcast on an outdoor screen in nearby Chestnut Garden Park.

The Novotel, which is attached to the Convention Centre, is the official Congress hotel and it has specially discounted rooms for those attending the Congress.

The Congress is expected to draw leaders, activists, scholars and legislators from over 80 countries on six continents.

Discussion will focus on: Life Issues – Euthanasia – Surrogacy – Population/Demographics – Motherhood – Fatherhood – Marriage – Pornography and Sex Trafficking – Education – the LGBT Agenda – Multi-National Organizations (the United Nations, European Union and Organization of American States, etc.) – – Faith & Family – Religious Freedom – and Family Policy (Family Friendly Governments). 

In addition:

  • there will be a cultural program with music and dancers
  • a world premiere of a Hollywood movie that reflects the strength and resiliency of the natural family will be shown
  • WCF Viva Familia Family Festival and Parade celebrating the Natural Family, will take place in the streets of Budapest on Sunday, May 28th, starting at Lajos Kossuth Square. Addresses from Prime Minister Victor Orban, Minister Zoltan Balog, Katlin Novak and WCF Founder Allan Carlson will inspire the crowd. The parade will be led by the heads of WCF, Hungarian state representatives, representatives of public organizations, children and young people in traditional folk costumes. Foreigners are encouraged to wear their traditional folk costumes too. Participants are asked to bring signs, national flags, the logo/flag of their organization; country signs and balloons provided by the organizers. The crowd will march to the Basilica where families and participants will receive blessings, and release the balloons with a cry of “Viva Familia!”

Please plan to attend this exciting Congress. Registration to the Congress is free. To register to attend the Congress go to: www.wcf11.org.

Please let us know if you are thinking of going. Email us at  realwcto@realwomenofcanada.ca