Ms. Kinga GONCZ MD

Born in Budapest in 1947, she graduated from the Faculty of General Medicine, Semmelweis University of Medicine in 1972. After obtaining her board certification in psychiatry, Doctor Göncz practised as a psychiatrist until 1986. Between 1982 and 1989, she worked as a senior assistant professor at the National Institute of Medical Rehabilitation. She played an instrumental role in establishing the education program for social workers and in the organisational development of social agencies. From 1990, she had a private practice in psychotherapy. In 1989, she became assistant professor at the Department of Social Policy, Institute of Sociology, Eötvös Loránd University of Arts and Sciences and from 1998 she held a teaching appointment with the Department of Law, Central European University. 

From 1992, Doctor Göncz has had several study visits at various USA universities where she delivered lectures, too. She has been a Visiting Scholar at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and a Lecturer at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio. She has extensively published in the field of social work, supervision, and training. In 1994, she became the director of Partners Hungary Foundation, where her main activities included trainings in mediation, conflict management and negotiating skills, and facilitating public participation. From 2001 she has participated in shaping the curriculum of Development School where she has also given lectures. In 2002 she became member of the school’s board as well.

In May 2002 Doctor Göncz was appointed Political Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health, Social and Family Affairs, where she was mainly responsible for the coordination of civil affairs, the reform of the Hungarian social welfare system and the direction of the Social Welfare Council, the Council of Elderly Affairs and the National Council of Disability Affairs.

She was appointed Minister of Equal Opportunities as of 15 June, 2004, responsible for social integration of the Roma community, equality of women and men, people with disability, social inclusion and NGOs.

As of 4 October, 2004 Doctor Göncz was appointed Minister of Youth, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities.

Doctor Göncz, who has command of English and German, is married to Dr. László Benedek and has two grown-up children.