Helsinki File: Reports to international organisations

In its March 2015 pilot judgment issued in the Varga and Others v. Hungary case (in which three of the applicants were represented by the HHC), the European Court of Human Rights concluded that the overcrowding of penitentiaries in Hungary constitutes a structural problem, and Hungary should produce a plan to reduce overcrowding.

In its March 2015 judgment issued in the Varga and Others v. Hungary case, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) concluded that the overcrowding of penitentiaries in Hungary constitutes a structural problem, and Hungary … Read more

In the last decade, the HHC’s attorneys have successfully litigated cases before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in relation to ill-treatment by the police. Therefore, the HHC has special interest in the execution … Read more

The HHC submitted a communication to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe with regard to the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights related to the overcrowding in Hungarian penitentiaries.

NGO factsheets on the rule of law developments in Hungary, September 2014

Hungarian NGOs and international organisations voiced concerns about the Hungarian government’s fierce crackdown on NGOs at the international human rights event of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Warsaw.

Summary of HHC main human rights concerns

Briefing paper of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (October 2013) Addititonal information of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention regarding the unlimited … Read more

HHC met members of the CPT delegation to Hungary in April 2013.

Three Hungarian NGOs, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, the Eötvös Károly Institute and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union addressed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the European Commission Vice-President, Commissioner in Charge of Justice, Human Rights and Citizenship in order to raise their attention to the planned Fourth Amendment to the Fundamental Law of Hungary, threatening the rule of law. The NGOs asked the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to request the Venice Commission to perform an analysis of the proposed amendments.

The UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) is in the process of preparing a General Comment on Article 9 (Liberty and Security of Person) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Upon the invitation … Read more

The Eötvös Károly Public Policy Institute, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union analysed the draft of the new Constitutional Court Act, to be adopted under the new Hungarian Constitution. The three NGOs found that under the proposed new rules, the Constitutional Court would only be able to ensure respect for constitutional provisions to a limited extent. In turn, the powers of Parliament would increase and fundamental rights protection would weaken.

Comments of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee: The Hungarian Helsinki Committee’s comments to the Third Report on Hungary by ECRI (26 March 2008) The Hungarian Helsinki Committee’s comments regarding the developments following the Second Report on Hungary by ECRI … Read more

Documents related to the Fourth Periodic Report of Hungary