On 29 May 2018, the Hungarian government published two draft laws as the third version of LexNGO 2018, or of what it refers to as the ‘Stop Soros’ package. The drafts propose using criminal law … Read more
From emerging democracies in transition, illiberal governments have rapidly transformed Hungary and Poland into ill democracies, have attempted to do so in Croatia, and are slowly and carefully entertaining an illiberal platform in Serbia, according … Read more
A final order of the court required the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister to suspend the distribution of the “National Consultation questionnaires” by post and online, at least the part that refers to the … Read more
Márta Pardavi, co-chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee spoke at the hearing on “the Situation in Hungary” in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). The speech can be read here. Intervention at … Read more
Timeline of the series of governmental attacks against Hungarian NGOs, which constitute another step in the process aimed at establishing an “illiberal state” in Hungary
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee went to court on 1 October 2017 because of the misleading statements of the “National Consultation questionnaire” that misrepresent facts. HHC wants the court to establish that the statements in the … Read more
The Law on the Transparency of Organisations Receiving Foreign Funds (Anti-NGO Law) was adopted on 13 June 2017 by the governing majority of the Hungarian Parliament, despite repeated domestic and international objections. What is the problem … Read more
Between 2010 and 2014, an ‘illiberal state’ was being built in Hungary. In line with the prime minister’s announcement on the subject, from 2014 we have been offered a perspective on how an actual, consolidated illiberal democracy operates. Hungary remains … Read more
Statement by Hungarian NGOs OSCE HDIM 2017 Working session 2: Fundamental freedoms I. Freedom of peaceful assembly and association – National human rights institutions and the role of civil society in the protection of human … Read more
Hungarian NGOs and Liberties recently asked the Commission to take three measures to protect the rule of law and the freedom of NGOs in Hungary and across the EU. Here’s our assessment of the Commission’s … Read more
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and Liberties call on the European Parliament to follow up on its resolution of 17 May 2017 on the situation in Hungary with a view to triggering Article 7(1) as expeditiously as possible.
Budapest, 13 June 2017 The Law on the Transparency of Organisations Receiving Foreign Funds, the NGO Law was adopted today by the governing majority of the Hungarian Parliament, despite repeated domestic and international objections. … Read more
On Tuesday, 13 June, after two postponed votes, the Hungarian Parliament adopted the Law on the Transparency of Foreign Funded Organisations. The community of civil society organisations united in the Civilizáció campaign continue to believe … Read more
A bill targeting nongovernmental organizations would force some groups that receive funding from outside Hungary to register as “foreign funded” and subject them to excessive sanctions and obligations, Human Rights Watch and the Hungarian Helsinki … Read more
Since the elections in 2010, the current governing party has systematically undermined the rule of law in Hungary, seriously disrupting the system of checks and balances. On 7 April 2017, governing party MPs submitted to … Read more
On 7 April 2017, a Bill on NGOs receiving foreign funds was submitted to the Hungarian Parliament, setting out that NGOs receiving foreign funds over a certain yearly threshold will have to register themselves and will have to label themselves as organizations receiving foreign funds on their website and in their publications.
RESOLUTION The work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is essential to Hungarian society. We conduct diverse and irreplaceable work while striving for the common good and the achievement of democracy: the self-organisation of citizens provides shared … Read more
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, together with other 14 Hungarian human rights NGOs have urged the respective committee to recommend that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rejects the candidates nominated by the Hungarian Government to … Read more
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee – together with 10 other NGOs – sent an open letter to the Minister of Justice requiring him to withdraw the list of candidates to the post of judge at the … Read more
The Hungarian government has filled the Constitutional Court with loyal judges to create a judicial rubber stamp for government interests, according to a study by the Eötvös Károly Institute, the HHC and the HCLU of recent Constitutional Court decisions.