Topic: Justice
Anybody may become defenceless in the face of the state’s power.
HHC and HCLU joint statement on Government bill concerning petty offences
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union reviewed the government’s bill regarding the amendments aiming to improve public safety. The proposed regulations would introduce stricter rules, and in case of some offenses … Read more
Human rights NGOs criticize Government bill
The Bill on legislative amendments “necessary for improving public security” has led to a situation in which juvenile offenders committing petty theft almost inevitably end up in confinement. The amendments proposed by the government in … Read more
HHC wins lawsuit against Budapest Police Headquarters in a freedom of information case
In June 2008 the HHC sent a public interest information request to all Budapest-based police stations to find out in how many cases the police had appointed ex officio defense counsels in mandatory defense cases … Read more
Supermarket violates requirement of equal treatment
The HHC’s lawyer brought a lawsuit on behalf of a blind person who had been denied access to a supermarket (Match) because of his guide dog. The first instance court established the violation of the … Read more
HHC turns to the President because of three strikes law
In the case of the “Three Strikes Law” (Bill No. T/25.) the HHC has also turned to the President of Hungary, asking him not to sign the law but send it to the Constitutional Court … Read more
CPT report on Hungary
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published today the report on its fourth periodic visit to Hungary in March/April 2009, together with … Read more
Promoting Independent Prison Complaints Mechanisms (2010)
The system of prison complaints is dysfunctional due to systemic and procedural reasons and does not meet international standards throughout the CEE-FSU region.As previous discussions and presentations suggest, in most of these countries the prison … Read more
HHC: The Hungarian three strikes law is unconstitutional
HHC turns to the Supreme Court in freedom of information case
The HHC’s project “Steps Towards a Transparent Appointment System in Criminal Legal Aid” is aimed at acquiring statistical data about the practice of appointment and promoting reform of the system with the aim of reducing the possibility of corruption. As part of the project, the HHC has requested data concerning the names of appointed counsels and the number of cases in which they were appointed in 2008 from 28 police headquarters in seven regions.
Investigation by Bács-Kiskun County Police Chief confirms HHC findings on the ex officio appointment system in criminal cases
The HHC requested data concerning the names of appointed counsels and the number of cases in which they were appointed in 2008 from 28 headquarters in seven regions, in order to demonstrate that the practice of having “in-house” lawyers at police headquarters is widespread.
Evaluating a year and a half
Study published on the practice of the Independent Police Complaints Board
Anti-Roma statements of a mayor qualify as harassment according to the Equal Treatment Authority
On 19 October 2009, the HHC’s lawyer filed an actio popularis claim with the Equal Treatment Authority concerning the statements of the Kiskunlacháza mayor, who in relation to a murder (with regard to which at present … Read more
HHC wins lawsuit against the National and Budapest Police Headquarters
In June 2008 the HHC sent a public interest information request to all Budapest-based police stations to find out in how many cases the police had appointed ex officio defense counsels in mandatory defense cases … Read more
HHC turns to Constitutional Court concerning a discriminative provision on public servants
Towards the Equality of Roma Defendants before Courts and in Penitentiaries (2010-2014)
Discrimination against the Roma is widespread in all fields of life in Hungary. Research shows that police officers are also highly biased against Roma – but no research has been carried out yet with regard … Read more
Supreme Court judgment on police measures restricting access to Parliament square in Budapest
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
HHC position on wearing the uniform of the dissolved Hungarian Guard
The HHC and the Legal Defense Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities issued a statement and a detailed legal analysis as to what kind of consequences it has according to the current legal provisions if … Read more
NGOs’ statement regarding the role of the National Security Services in the investigation of attacks against Roma
The Legal Defence Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and the European Roma Rights Centre urges to clarify the role of the National Security Services in the … Read more
HHC calls on President of the Republic and all parliamentary parties to show support for Gay Pride parade on 5 September