Ukraine Information for refugees from Ukraine
Информация для ищущих убежища из Украины. Інформація для біженців із України.
Operation Starve and Strangle
Hungary’s proposed “Transparency” Law threatens core European democratic values and attacks independent civil society and media organisations
Relevant Helsinki Files
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Systemic failures persist in tackling police ill-treatment in Hungary
On 21 January 2026, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC) submitted a new Rule 9(2) communication to the Committee of Ministers concerning the execution of the European Court of Human Rights’ judgments in the Gubacsi v. … Read more
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Civil society warns of continued discrimination in minority voting rights ahead of 2026 elections
In a joint submission to the Council of Europe, HCLU and HHC highlight the Hungarian government’s continued failure to reform the national minority voting system in spite of a European Court of Human Rights judgment, leaving most minorities without a real chance of parliamentary representation before the 2026 elections.
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Prison overcrowding and inhumane detention conditions in Hungary remain unresolved
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC) has submitted a new communication to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe concerning the execution of the European Court of Human Rights’ pilot judgment in Varga and Others v. Hungary and the related István Gábor Kovács v. Hungary case group. This group of cases concerns inhuman and/or degrading treatment arising from poor conditions of detention, primarily resulting from structural prison overcrowding, the lack of effective preventive and compensatory remedies, and other detention-related violations.
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Human dignity belongs to everyone, including foreigners
The “Human Rights Defenders of the Future” the youth group of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, held a Forum Theatre performance on 10 December, on World Human Rights Day. The interactive performance portrayed the problems refugees and foreigners face living in Hungary.
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Threat Assessment of the 2026 Hungarian Parliamentary Elections
In April 2026, the Hungarian parliamentary elections will be a pivotal moment for democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law in Hungary and for the entire European Union. There is a serious likelihood that they will be marred, yet again, by grave violations of both domestic and international standards for democratic elections.
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The case of the Hungarian National Election Commission
As an electoral body, the Hungarian National Election Commission is unable to level the playing field, which favours the governing parties.
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From Principle to Practice: Cultivating a Rule of Law Culture in Europe
Study on Innovative Practices of Civil Society Regarding the EU Rule of Law Toolbox
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Amendments to the Hungarian election-related legal framework – From 4 April 2022 until 10 December 2025
Since the last general election on 3 April 2022, the Hungarian Parliament has passed several amendments to the legal framework relating to elections.
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Assessing Hungary’s compliance with conditions to access EU funds in November 2025
In December 2022, European Union institutions suspended and tied to conditions Hungary’s access to EU funds under various procedures due to severe breaches of the rule of law and human rights. Ahead of the upcoming … Read more
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Toolkit and Handbook for Supporting Civil Society
A new handbook is published to support civil society in building strong communities of practice and the first ‘Caring to Include’ toolkit can be accessed that is developed to strengthen the well-being of staff and volunteers who support refugees and people seeking protection.
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Democratic Backsliding: The State of Electoral Integrity in Hungary
Persistent systemic challenges continue to affect Hungary’s compliance with OSCE commitments related to democratic elections. Numerous long-standing OSCE/ODIHR recommendations remain unaddressed. The most pressing issues cumulatively contribute to an electoral environment that questions the overall fairness of the process.
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Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association
Háttér Society, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC) have jointly submitted input to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association for her 2026 thematic report … Read more
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Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief: The Right to a Dignified Final Farewell
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC) and the Support Network for Detainees and Their Families (FECSKE) have submitted input to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief for her forthcoming thematic report on … Read more
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Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture: Experiences of Victims and Survivors
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC), together with the Support Network for Detainees and Their Families (FECSKE), has contributed to the call for input by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or … Read more
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Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has submitted its response to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders for her forthcoming and final report to the 61st session of the Human Rights Council. The call for … Read more
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Attempts to Silence Judicial Dissent: The cases of Judge András Kovács and X, a senior scientific advisor at the Kúria
Breaches of judges’ freedom of expression have been a long-standing problem in Hungary. The individual instances may not be as blatant as in the case of Poland, however, the issue is persistent. For a long … Read more
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Statements & Written Submissions at the 2025 OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee participated at the 2025 OSCE Human Dimension Conference. This 11-day conference was dedicated to discussions on the condition of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the OSCE area. The conference provided … Read more
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Strengthening Europe’s rule of law defences: New tools for early warning and strategic litigation
Two new resources developed under the Horizon Europe–funded RED-SPINEL project provide practical guidance for civil society and legal professionals on how to anticipate, detect, and respond to rule of law backsliding and fundamental rights violations across Europe.
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Questions and recommendations for Hungary in the Article 7 procedure – GAC hearing on 21 October
The Article 7(1) TEU procedure against Hungary was launched by the European Parliament in 2018 to assess whether there is a clear risk of a serious breach of the Union’s fundamental values. Since then, the … Read more
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Joint third-party intervention at the ECtHR in GYLA and Others v. Georgia
Seven Hungarian civil society organisations submitted a third-party intervention to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and Others v. Georgia (Application no. 31069/24). The case was filed on behalf of 140 complainants following the adoption of Georgia’s Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence which infringes the rights of independent civil society organisations and private individuals.