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 Romani people in Hungary (also known as roma or Romani Hungarians; ) are Hungary, Hungarian citizens of Romani people, Romani descent. According to the 2011 census, they comprise 3.18% of the total population, which alone makes them the largest ...

Life and career

Bíró was born to Hungarian and Serbian parents in

Sofia Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...

on 20 October 1925. After returning to Hungary, he subsequently fled the country following the

Hungarian Revolution of 1956 The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 (23 October – 4 November 1956; ), also known as the Hungarian Uprising, was an attempted countrywide revolution against the government of the Hungarian People's Republic (1949–1989) and the policies caused by ...

, settling in France. He was a founding editor of the UN family journals ''Ceres'' and ''Mazingira''. In 1986, Bíró returned to Hungary. He founded the organization Hungarian Foundation for Self-Reliance () in 1990, which supported Hungary's Romani community by supporting small projects, such as purchasing land for farmers to rear livestock. In 1995, he and the organisation were awarded the

Right Livelihood Award The Right Livelihood Award is an international award to "honour and support those offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today." The prize was established in 1980 by German-Swedish philanthropist Jakob vo ...

"for their resolute defence of Hungary's Roma minority and effective efforts to aid their self-development." Bíró died on 18 June 2024, at the age of 98.

References

1925 births 2024 deaths Hungarian activists Hungarian editors Hungarian journalists Hungarian people of Serbian descent People from Sofia {{Hungary-writer-stub