Submission to the Committee for the Prevention of Torture during its ad hoc visit to Hungary in 2025

The CPT visits places of detention to assess the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. During this visit, the delegation visited Tiszalök and Szombathely Prisons, paying particular attention to the measures implemented by the authorities in response to recommendations made following the Committee’s previous visit in 2023. 

Since the last CPT visit to Hungary in 2023, there has been little tangible progress regarding key issues related to detention. Nevertheless, issues such as prison overcrowding and inhumane detention conditions, the failure to address systemic deficiencies in the prevention, investigation and sanctioning of ill-treatment, as well as the rise in the number of pre-trial detainees and irregularities in pre-trial detention, remain serious concerns.  

Against this background, the HHC’s submission sought to draw attention to some of the most pressing problems within Hungary’s criminal justice system. Additionally, it also proposed recommendations for the necessary steps required to address them. 

Key issues outlined in the submission: 

• Lack of adequate rights protection and monitoring of places of detention; 

• The long-standing systemic issue of prison overcrowding; 

• Ill-treatment and inadequate safeguards against ill-treatment; 

• The rise in the number of pre-trial detainees, irregularities in pre-trial detention, and the underuse of alternatives;  

• Excessive use of means of restraint and routine strip searches; 

• Insufficient access to case files; 

• Deficiencies in recognising and upholding the rights of LGBTQI detainees; 

• Excessive restrictions on prisoners’ visiting rights and the failure to uphold the right to a dignified final farewell. 

You can read the HHC Justice Programme’s submission to the CPT’s 2025 ad hoc visit here. 

The CPT’s report on its 2023 visit to Hungary is available here.