One man’s fight to keep his family home
Bring Human Rights Home: A Story from Azerbaijan
Category: News
Unnecessary restrictions have been imposed as prisoners are allowed visitors again
After 16 months, it is finally possible to visit detainees in person again, but only under severe and unjustified restrictions. Children are still not allowed to visit their parents. According to press reports, detainees can … Read more
Neighbourhood unites to stop invasive surveillance system
Bring Human Rights Home: A Story from The Netherlands
Even though it has no public support, Hungarian Parliament passed the Putin Propaganda Law
Although thousands protested, and a petition against the law was signed by more than 100,000 people, Parliament showed that is not interested in what Hungarians think. Parliament passed the Propaganda Law, banning LGBTQI-themed educational programmes, products, and advertising seen by those under 18 years of age.
Hungarian government launches Russian-style attack on freedom of speech and children’s rights
The Hungarian ruling party, Fidesz, introduced an amendment that would severely restrict freedom of speech and children’s rights by banning LGBTQI-themed educational programs and public service advertisements. Out of Hungarian LGBTQI people, 42% have thought about suicide and 30% have attempted it. This new amendment – which eerily mimics the Russian propaganda law – would further poison public opinion.
Roma refuse to accept police inaction during racist attack
Bring Human Rights Home: A Story from Hungary
The appointment of András Zs. Varga: not even the UN was provided with an explanation by the government
The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers considered the election of Justice András Zs. Varga as President of the Kúria as a measure hampering judicial independence.
The Kúria cannot act as an EU court, because it is not one
The Advocate General of the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) made it abundantly clear that only one forum can legally decide whether a Hungarian judge’s request for a preliminary ruling from the CJEU is inadmissible, and that is the CJEU itself. The opinion of the Advocate General directly affects both the applicability of EU law in Hungary and the independence of Hungarian judges.
Yet another government-friendly judicial leader at the Supreme Court of Hungary
András Patyi has become a Vice President of the Kúria (Supreme Court of Hungary) based on recommendation of the new Chief Justice recently elected against clear objection of judicial representatives. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s loyal … Read more
Deployment of military forces as a response to the pandemic
The outburst of the coronavirus pandemic triggered a robust militarisation process in Hungary. As a response to the COVID-19 infection, the Hungarian government has not only vested the military forces with new, extraordinary powers during … Read more
Fourteen months of deprivation: detainees’ contact with the outside world during the pandemic
Visits to penitentiaries have been banned for more than a year since the outbreak of the pandemic in Hungary. Consequently, no personal contact has burdened detainees and their family members. Alternative forms of communication, such … Read more
Creating a parallel state structure II.: management of new supervisory authorities cemented for 9 years
A recently adopted Act and a Bill being debated in the Parliament aim at transforming existing supervisory bodies and mechanisms over which currently the government has control in order to cement their new management, appointed … Read more
Creating a parallel state structure I.: public trust funds performing a public function
In an attempt to privatise immense public wealth and public universities, the governing majority adopted legislation that establishes the concept of “public trust funds performing a public function” and designated 32 entities as such. Most … Read more
Hungary’s national plan under the EU’s recovery and resilience facility (RFF)
No consultation, hasty changes, “reforms” that fail to address Council recommendations: our assessment of certain reforms proposed in Hungary’s national plan under the EU’s recovery and resilience facility (RFF) Hungary was allocated almost 5 900 … Read more
Who Can Enter Hungary During Covid-19 Restrictions?
Who Can Enter Hungary During Covid-19 Restrictions?
Information leaflet of the Hungarian Helsinki CommitteePushing back responsibility – Quarterly report on push-backs on the Western Balkan Route
As part of the Protecting Rights at Borders initiative funded by the European Programme for Integration and Migration (EPIM), the first quarterly report on unlawful push-backs carried out by authorities in Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, … Read more
Don’t let them shut your mouth with a little beer!
We have not been able to use public spaces to fulfill their important public function for 175 days, and counting. Dog walking, coming and going, shopping, queuing, sitting out on a restaurant terrace, drinking a beer – all of these activities are now permitted again in public spaces. However, if we want to hold an assembly, a protest march or a standing demonstration – that is still completely forbidden. We continue to be totally deprived of our fundamental right to assembly. We protest! Total prohibition is not the answer.
Intervention at the European Parliament’s LIBE Committee’s Democracy, Rule of Law, and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group
Márta Pardavi, co-chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, was invited to the expert panel of the Monitoring Group’s session on 29 April 2021 to exchange views on civil society space in the EU, in particular … Read more
Statement and recommendations to the OSCE SHDM on democratic law-making
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee submitted its statement, including recommendations, on issues related to law-making in Hungary to the OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Democratic Law-Making: Ensuring Participation. In our statement, we drew the attention … Read more
Intervention at the European Parliament’s LIBE Committee’s Frontex Scrutiny Working Group
Our intervention at the European Parliament’s LIBE Committee Working Group on Frontex Scrutiny on push-backs and the Agency’s human rights record in Hungary.