András Bíró (20 October 1925 – 18 June 2024) was a Hungarian journalist, journal editor, environment activist and human rights activist, noted for his support of the Romani people in Hungary.

András Bíró
Born(1925-10-20)20 October 1925
Died18 June 2024(2024-06-18) (aged 98)
NationalityHungarian
Occupation(s)Journalist, journal editor
Known forEnvironment activist and human rights activist
AwardsRight Livelihood Award (1995)

Life and career

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Bíró was born to Hungarian and Serbian parents in Sofia on 20 October 1925.[1] After returning to Hungary, he subsequently fled the country following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, settling in France.[2] He was a founding editor of the UN family journals Ceres and Mazingira.[1]

In 1986, Bíró returned to Hungary. He founded the organization Hungarian Foundation for Self-Reliance (Hungarian: Autonómia Alapítvány) in 1990, which supported Hungary's Romani community by supporting small projects, such as purchasing land for farmers to rear livestock.[3] In 1995, he and the organisation were awarded the Right Livelihood Award "for their resolute defence of Hungary's Roma minority and effective efforts to aid their self-development."[1]

Bíró died on 18 June 2024, at the age of 98.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "András Biró / Hungarian Foundation for Self-Reliance (Hungary)". Right Livelihood Award. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  2. ^ Morel, Colette (2004). Ma vie en rouge (in French). Anjou: Cheminements. p. 239. ISBN 2844782906.
  3. ^ Soule, Véronique (13 February 1996). "Un tremplin pour l'élite tsigane en HongrieOuvert en 1994, le lycée de Pecs accueille exclusivement des Roms. Une première en Europe". Libération (in French). Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Elhunyt Bíró András újságíró, emberi jogi aktivista". hvg.hu. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.