Serbia: Not a safe country of asylum

In our latest report, we analysed the functioning of the Serbian asylum system again, with special focus on the application of the "safe third country" concept in Hungary and the possible consequences of returning rejected asylum seekers to Serbia.

Serbia as a Safe Third Country: Revisited

Serbia as a Safe Third Country: A Wrong Presumption and is based on the results of a three-day field mission by the HHC to Serbia in April 2012, as well as extensive desk research.

Given that only few substantial changes have occurred in both the Serbian asylum practice and in the policy of Hungarian authorities with regards to return to Serbia, unfortunately, our concerns expressed in the 2011 report remain valid.

The fact finding mission was supported by the UNHCR Central European Regional Representation.

Tags: asylum seekers Office of Immigration and Nationality police refugee safe third country Serbia

2013. 05. 09.

Does bias (not) count!?

The police failed to consider that the assault on the Chairman of the Raoul Wallenberg Association bears an anti-Semitic bias and failed to investigate the incident as hate crime despite the fact that the law provides greater protection ...

Detention & law enforcement

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2013. 05. 07.

The Constitutional Court hears the President of the ...

According to the Eötvös Károly Institute, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, the Constitutional Court’s decision to hear the President of the National Judicial Office behind closed doors undermines the transparency of decision-making by ...

Rule of law

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HUMAN RIGHTS LEGAL COUNSELLING PROGRAM

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

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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