Cases

Strasbourg Human Rights Court rules Hungary held asylum-seekers in detention unlawfully

2011. 09. 20.

The European Court of Human Rights found that two Ivorian asylum-seekers, represented by the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, had been held in immigration detention unlawfully for 5 months. Hungary must pay ...

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Aims

The right to seek asylum and the obligation of protecting refugees is enshrined in numerous international human rights instruments and forms an integral part of European values. Working in partnership with UNHCR, the HHC provides free legal assistance to asylum seekers arriving in Hungary and strives to ensure access to asylum for those in need of international protection (such as refugees or stateless persons). Through our legal counselling and training activities, we work towards ensuring high-quality and rights-based asylum procedures both in Hungary and the EU. We also maintain The Refugee Law Reader, a unique international on-line refugee law curriculum website. We promote the rights and the protection of stateless persons.

2012. 05. 17.

Effective monitoring to prevent torture

The aim of the conference organised by the HHC and the MDAC was to prepare Hungary for the operation of the body monitroing the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty established in the framework of the OPCAT.

Detention & law enforcement

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2012. 04. 27.

Inadequate response to the Venice Commission’s criticism

The Hungarian Government failed to provide adequate legislative response to the Venice Commission’s criticism on judicial reform

Rule of law

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Do you need legal assistance?

HUMAN RIGHTS LEGAL COUNSELLING PROGRAM

If you wish to seek legal assistance, please send us your complaint in writing (1242 Budapest, PO Box 317).

Before coming to our office, please set up an appointment on the telephone. We can only provide consultations based on a prior appointment.

We can take your phone calls to set up an appointment, and to inform you about your written complaints during the following hours:

Monday: 12-18
Tuesday: 10-18
Thursday: 10-18
Friday: 10-14

The personal meetings can only take place during the above hours. Beyond these hours, we cannot take your phone calls or meet personally.

We handle all cases and documents in the strictest confidence, in accordance with the rules on legal secrets.

In your letter, please provide an outline of your complaint or case, and describe the most important features of the case:

your personal data,
in what kind of case do you need legal assistance (e.g. treatment by the police or other law enforcement agencies, detention, alien policing detention, seeking asylum, etc.),
when and where did the events occur,
which authorities are involved in the case,
have you received legal assistance already from another lawyer/organisation.

Please attach copies of all documents taken in the case (your own letters and decisions, judgments delivered by the courts or authorities). If you have medical reports which are important in the case, please also send a copy of those as well.

Please also let us know how we can contact you (telephone number, email or postal address).

We respond in writing to all written requests for assistance within 60 days, informing complainants whether we are able to provide assistance and about the next steps.

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the attorneys working with us maintain the right to decide which cases to assist, based on the HHC’s mandate and their own professional judgment.

Contact

Magyar Helsinki Bizottság
1054 Budapest, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 36-38.
1242 Budapest, Pf. 317.
tel./fax: (36 1) 321 4323, 321 4327, 321 4141

helsinki@helsinki.hu