Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative (VoFG CI) warmly congratulates Professor Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, Vice-Chair of our International Commission, on receiving an honorary doctorate from Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest, Hungary, on 14 October 2026.
In her honorary doctorate address, “Courage, Commitment and Community,” Professor Cordonier Segger reflected on our shared responsibility to protect the rights and well-being of future generations and the natural world. She reminded us that the decisions we make today shape the world children will inherit tomorrow, and that justice requires us to consider those whose voices are not yet heard.
Her address holds special meaning for VoFG CI, launched in 2014 to empower children to share their stories, ideas, and visions for a better future. Highlighting the importance of our initiative, Professor Cordonier Segger celebrated the contributions of young authors who remind decision-makers why children’s voices matter:
““Our future is not an abstract concept. Our future has names. Our future has handwriting. Our future has souls.””
These powerful words capture the heart of VoFG CI: children are not simply the adults of tomorrow; they are voices that deserve to be heard today. Their stories challenge us to look beyond immediate concerns and build a world where their rights, hopes, and aspirations are respected.
Professor Cordonier Segger also paid tribute to Judge Professor Dr. Marcel Szabó, Hungary’s former Ombudsman for Future Generations and a Constitutional Court judge and a valued member of the VoFG CI International Commission, recognizing his contributions to intergenerational justice and to giving future generations a voice through law.
We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition of Professor Cordonier Segger’s outstanding contributions to justice, sustainability, and the protection of future generations. Her work continues to inspire our commitment to ensuring that children’s voices help shape a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.
Congratulations, Professor Cordonier Segger!
📖 Read her full address, click here: “Courage, Commitment and Community.”
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