HHC criticizes state inactivity
During a demonstration organized on 4 May 2011, human rights organizations called on the Hungarian government to take immediate steps to stamp out racist aggression.
Category: News
Budapest Police acknowledge that restricting access to Parliament Square in 2006 was disproportionate
In 2006, the police restricted access to the square in front of the Parliament of Hungary. Thus, for a while, it was not possible to demonstrate on the square. The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has claimed that the … Read more
The first civil-police consultation organized by the HHC in the VIIIth district of Budapest was successful
The first civil-police consultation between the Budapest VIIIth District Police and the local organizations representing the Józsefváros inhabitants was held in April by the Hungarian Helsinki Committee. The aim of the consultation was building trust … Read more
Briefing for Budapest-based embassies on Hungary’s human rights performance in advance of UPR review
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee organized a meeting for the embassies of Austria, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, The Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden and the United States. The HHC presented the list of issues and recommendations as well as its shadow report in advance of the Universal Periodic Review.
Six NGOs call on authorities to act about the situation in Hajdúhadház
HHC turned to the ECtHR concerning the accessibility of data on ex officio appointed defence counsels
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights after the Supreme Court of Hungary had ruled that the names of appointed counsels and the number of cases in which … Read more
Prison guard ill-treating detainee deemed guilty – the detainee was represented by the HHC
A prison guard ill-treating a detainee in July 2010 in the Budapest High and Medium Scurity Prison was found guilty by the Regional Court of Budapest on 30 March 2011. The decision is final. The … Read more
HHC and HCLU turn to the Constitutional Court regarding the
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) submitted a joint petition to the Constitutional Court, requesting the Court to repeal the Act of Parliament nullifying the court decisions brought in connection … Read more
NGOs turn to the Minister of Interior regarding the tensions between right-wing radicals and the Roma in Gyöngyöspata
The HCLU, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the Legal Defence Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities wrote a joint letter to Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér. The human rights NGOs requested the Minister to immediately … Read more
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.
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.
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
Court judgment on police measure restricting access to the square in front of the Parliament
In 2006 the police restricted access to the square in front of the Parliament of Hungary, thus, for a while it was not possible to demonstrate on the square. The Hungarian Helsinki Comittee has claimed that the … Read more
Government legalizes severe overcrowding in prisons
The Government intends to solve the problem of severe overcrowding in penitentiaries by amending the respective law instead of decreasing the number of detainees. According to the recent amendments, the minimal living space for detainees … Read more
UN Human Rights Committee finds numerous shortcomings after periodic review
The UN Human Rights Committee on its 100th session assessed Hungary’s implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Hungarian Helsinki Committee helped the Committee’s work by preparing two shadow reports.