Statelessness in Hungary
Having a nationality is like the air to breathe. One takes it for granted and only realises its importance when it is missing. Currently, there are at least 12 million stateless persons in the world.
Category: News
Information leaflet on the rights of civil servants who had been unlawfully dismissed
The Hungarian Helsinki Commission was contacted by several citizens regarding the chances of remedy in case of dismissal of civil servants without justification, after the Constitutional Court deemed the relevant provisions unconstitutional. Therefore, the HHC issued an information leaflet on the ways and chances of remedy.
Nullification law: In a state governed by the rule of law, the legislator just creates law while courts apply it
According to the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, the „nullification law” proposed by Fidesz MP István Balsai violates the division of powers and the criminal procedure based on the rule of law. According to the proposal, an … Read more
HHC warns of populist rhetoric in proposed new Constitution – possibility of life sentence without parole
Some people suggest that the new constitution of Hungary should make capital punishment possible. What do you think? Others would like if citizens no longer had to pay taxes. What is your opinion? There are … Read more
HHC and HCLU help organisers to challenge police ban on Budapest Pride
The Budapest Pride March was banned by the Budapest Police Headquarters. The HHC and the HCLU helped the organizers of the Budapest Pride to challenge the police ban before court.
Constitutional Court annuls rules on unreasoned dismissal for civil servants
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has also petitioned the Constitutional Court regarding the unjustified dismissal of civil servants. In its decision issued on 15 February the Constitutional Court ruled unanimously that the relevant provisions are unconstitutional. However, the Court annulled the provisions only by 30 May 2011. The HHC would like to stress that those dismissed before 31 May 2011 may launch a constitutional complaint with the Constitutitonal Court.
Information leaflet and sample for constitutional complaint for civil servants dismissed in an unreasoned way
In its decision issued on 15 February the Constitutional Court ruled unanimously that the provisions on the unreasoned dismissal of civil servants are unconstitutional. However, the Court annulled the provisions only by 30 May 2011. … Read more
Stop Dublin transfers to Greece
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee calls on the Hungarian government and the competent asylum authority, the Office of Immigration and Nationality to follow the example of Belgium, Iceland, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, and the UK and stop Dublin transfers to Greece.
European Court of Human Rights finds Hungary in breach in a pre-trial detention case taken by HHC
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in its decision dated 11 January 2011 that the pre-trial detention of a 27-year old man was unjustified. According to the ECtHR, the applicant should not have been … Read more
Arguments for combatting hate crime as a human rights NGO
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has received a number of letters claiming that the NGO raises its voice against bias attacks againt Roma persons, but does not do so in case of criminal offenses committed by persons perceived to be Roma. Balázs Tóth, programme coordinator of the HHC and Ferenc Kőszeg founding president exhchanged long letters with one of correspondents. The letters were published in the periodical titled Beszélő with the consent of those affected.
Best practices of voluntary return – Guidelines
In the framework of its 2010 project entitled “Return in a lawful and humane manner” the Hungarian Helsinki Committee conducted a research on best practices of voluntary return and reintegration of failed asylum seekers or other groups of migrants.
Letter to the press on the occasion of the Hungarian EU-Presidency
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee wishes to offer its cooperation to the press on the occasion of the Hungarian EU-presidency and the opportunity to compare the most recent legislative developments with EU law.
NGOs turn to Viviane Reding
NGOs turn to the Viviane Reding, the European Commission’s Vice-President in charge of Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
Buffeted in the Borderland – the treatment of asylum seekers and migrants in Ukraine, a report of the Human Rights Watch
The latest report of the Human Rights Watch is based on interviews with 161 refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary.
Answer of the European Council regarding the restriction of the Constitutional Court’s powers
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe answered the letter of NGOs concerning the restriction of the power’s of the Constitutional Court.
The second wave of legislation – Violating the rule of law
The Eötvös Károly Institute, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee assessed the second wave of legislation by Hungary’s new Parliament
The second wave of legislation – Violating the rule of law
The Eötvös Károly Institute, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee assessed the second wave of legislation by Hungary’s new Parliament
HHC challenges the “three strikes” rule
The Hungarian “three strikes” rule excludes the individualization of the sanctions by making it mandatory for the courts to sentence suspects to life imprisonment if certain conditions are met. The HHC claims in its motion … Read more
Shadow reports on Hungary’s human rights performance
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves the review of the human rights record of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. It was created through the UN General Assembly in 2006. In this review process the UN pays special attention to the information submitted by non-governmental organizations.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee aims to assist the UN to better assess Hungary’s human rights performance by contributing to three alternative reports within the framework of the upcoming periodic review.
Response to the court decision concerning the anti-Roma statements of a mayor
In its decision dated 19 January 2010, the Equal Treatment Authority established that the mayor of Kiskunlacháza has committed harassment when stating that the settlement’s population having had enough of ‘Roma aggression’. In October 2010, … Read more