People are free in a state where the consequences of their actions are predictable and where clean and transparent rules apply not only to them, but also to state authorities. In a state where the people know what the state expects from them, but they also know what they can expect from the state.
19 July 2018. Budapest We welcome the European Commission’s (EC) decision to start an infringement procedure against the Hungarian criminal law which threatens to prosecute and jail people who help asylum-seekers and migrants with legitimate … Read more
Budapest, 20 June 2018 — TODAY, on World Refugee Day the Hungarian Parliament adopted Bill T/333, a new version of the 2018 Anti-NGO package, and the Seventh Amendment to the Fundamental Law of Hungary. Although … Read more
A new draft legislative package that limits judicial independence and restricts the freedom of judges to interpret the law is a serious threat to the rule of law in Hungary and runs counter to values … Read more
On 29 May 2018, the Hungarian Government submitted a package of bills to the Hungarian Parliament as the third version of what it refers to as the ‘Stop Soros’ package. The bill no. T/333 ‘on … Read more
77 university professors from 28 countries of various continents expressed their solidarity with the Hungarian Helsinki Committee calling for the immediate halting of envisaged measures to starve and strangle independent civil society in Hungary. … Read more
Ten months after the scandal broke concerning the Topház social care institution the Hungarian Data Protection Authority stated: the fact that the civil organization uncovering the horrible conditions took photos and published them anonymised in … Read more
The HHC’s shadow reports and its suggestions for questions to be included in the List of Issues for the UN Human Rights Committee
Today the Metropolitan Court of Budapest in its first instance ruling found that in the ‘National Consultation’ questionnaire, the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister had violated the Hungarian Helsinki Committee’s right to good reputation. … Read more
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee shared its position with the Hungarian Government regarding the so-called “Stop Soros” draft bill. According to the human rights NGO the regulation under preparation is unacceptable and only serves constitutionally indefensible political … Read more
Fourteen Hungarian civil society organisations have submitted a joint appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, asking the court to declare that the anti-civil act on “foreign funding” violates the groups’ fundamental rights. The … Read more
On 29 May 2018, the Hungarian government published two draft laws as the third version of LexNGO 2018, or of what it refers to as the ‘Stop Soros’ package. The drafts propose using criminal law … Read more
From emerging democracies in transition, illiberal governments have rapidly transformed Hungary and Poland into ill democracies, have attempted to do so in Croatia, and are slowly and carefully entertaining an illiberal platform in Serbia, according … Read more
A final order of the court required the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister to suspend the distribution of the “National Consultation questionnaires” by post and online, at least the part that refers to the … Read more
Márta Pardavi, co-chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee spoke at the hearing on “the Situation in Hungary” in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). The speech can be read here. Intervention at … Read more
Timeline of the series of governmental attacks against Hungarian NGOs, which constitute another step in the process aimed at establishing an “illiberal state” in Hungary
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee went to court on 1 October 2017 because of the misleading statements of the “National Consultation questionnaire” that misrepresent facts. HHC wants the court to establish that the statements in the … Read more
The Law on the Transparency of Organisations Receiving Foreign Funds (Anti-NGO Law) was adopted on 13 June 2017 by the governing majority of the Hungarian Parliament, despite repeated domestic and international objections. What is the problem … Read more
Between 2010 and 2014, an ‘illiberal state’ was being built in Hungary. In line with the prime minister’s announcement on the subject, from 2014 we have been offered a perspective on how an actual, consolidated illiberal democracy operates. Hungary remains … Read more
Statement by Hungarian NGOs OSCE HDIM 2017 Working session 2: Fundamental freedoms I. Freedom of peaceful assembly and association – National human rights institutions and the role of civil society in the protection of human … Read more
Hungarian NGOs and Liberties recently asked the Commission to take three measures to protect the rule of law and the freedom of NGOs in Hungary and across the EU. Here’s our assessment of the Commission’s … Read more