Anybody may become defenceless in the face of the state’s power.
During the past few years, pre-trial detainees have made up almost one-third of the prison population in Hungary, contributing to the overcrowding of the penitentiary system, which, according to a 2015 judgment of the European … Read more
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has been monitoring the law and practice related to the rights of defendants for years and has been participating in numerous national and international projects related to the issue. In addition, … Read more
In the last decade, the HHC’s attorneys have successfully litigated cases before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in relation to ill-treatment by the police. Therefore, the HHC has special interest in the execution … Read more
The HHC submitted a communication to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe with regard to the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights related to the overcrowding in Hungarian penitentiaries.
Summary of HHC main human rights concerns
As an implementing partner organization of Fair Trials International the HHC is launching its new project to provide a unique evidence-base about the practice of pre-trial detention.
Authors: Anna Bárdits, András Kristóf Kádár, Nóra Novoszádek, Bori Simonovits, Dóra Szegő, Dániel Vince – Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Budapest, 2014, ISBN 978-615-5215-24-7
Legal background material and the law in English
Briefing paper of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (October 2013) Addititonal information of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention regarding the unlimited … Read more
HHC met members of the CPT delegation to Hungary in April 2013.
The UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) is in the process of preparing a General Comment on Article 9 (Liberty and Security of Person) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Upon the invitation … Read more
The notary of the village Rimóc (Northern Hungary) noticed that petty offence fines for lack of mandatory accessories for bicycles (ring, headlights, reflector prisms) are almost exclusively imposed on Roma people in the area, although … Read more
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee commented the draft law on the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture (OPCAT). The HHC welcomes the ratification of the OPCAT and the designation of the ombudsman as the national preventive mechanism. We are dissapointed however that the draft law does not cover all types of places of detention. We are concerned that NGOs which already acquired significant experience in monitoring detention are excluded from the national preventive mechanism which would start its operation only in 2015.
According to the NGOs’ view, the proposed amendments would allow the prosecutor to prohibit the attorney to attend the hearing of the witness. On the other hand it is a positive step that the draft law would ensure the right of appeal in case of placement in special security cells.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has prepared a summary on the events of concern happened in Hungary in the course of the country’s EU presidency, with special regard to the signs of racism and intolerance and the adoption of the new Constitution of Hungary.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has prepared a document on the signs of intolerance of the Hungarian society and the authorities against the Roma minority, the LGBT community and Jewish people. The English version … Read more
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.
The HHC has prepared a shadow report for the 100th session of the UN Human Rights Committee on the human rights situation in 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
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