Report on the Border Monitoring in 2008-2009 (2010)
The second tripartite report on the border monitoring project that is internationally considered as a best example for the cooperation between state authorities and non-state actors.
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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
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Documents submitted to the EP by the Hungarian Government concerning the draft Constitution are misleading
Three Hungarian NGOs, the Eötvös Károly Policy Institute, the HCLU and the HHC have submitted background materials to the leaders of the European Parliament groups concerning the draft Constitution of Hungary, such as the list of the most problematic substantive issues, a document drawing attention to those instances of erroneous or missing English translation of the draft text that concern the issues that are the gravest from the point of view of human rights and the rule of law, and comments on the background materials distributed to MEPs by the Hungarian Government.
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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
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The new Constitution of Hungary is unacceptable due to the deficiencies of the constitution-making process
The Eötvös Károly Institute, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee compiled a joint analysison the process of framing the new Constitution of Hungary. The three NGOs submitted their comments to the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters, which will form an opinion in the near future on the process of framing the new Constitution of Hungary. According to the analysis, the current way of designing the Constitution makes one doubt whether this document will be worthy of being called the Constitution of Hungary. The NGOs claim that the need for a new Constitution was not supported by adequate reasons, the new Constitution has been prepared in secret, the open public debate and the debate of experts over the text was missed and due to procedural rules of adopting it, the new Constitution will be the product of one political party.
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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
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Petition to the Constitutional Court concerning private pension law
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee requested the Constitutional Court to repeal the legal provisions setting out that those remaining members in private pension funds lose their future state pension.
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HHC: private pension law is unconstitutional
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee requested the Constitutional Court to repeal the legal provisions setting out that those remaining members in private pension funds lose their future state pension. The private pension law was debated by the Constitutional Court for the first time this week.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.