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 with the Hungarian law on foreign-funded NGOs? The Law interferes with the freedom of expression of the organizations as it affects their right to good reputation.
Continue ReadingBetween 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 part of the European Union (EU), but its actions contradict the fundamental principles of the EU.
Continue ReadingThe Hungarian Helsinki Committee, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and Liberties call on the European Parliament to follow up on its resolution of 17 May 2017 on the situation in Hungary with a view to triggering Article 7(1) as expeditiously as possible.
Continue ReadingBudapest, 13 June 2017 The Law on the Transparency of Organisations Receiving Foreign Funds, the NGO Law was adopted today by the governing majority of the Hungarian Parliament, despite repeated domestic and international objections. Hungarian society and civil society organisations must not stay silent. In a European democracy, a strong civil society is an essential pillar of democracy and there is no place for stigmatising NGOs.
Continue ReadingA bill targeting nongovernmental organizations would force some groups that receive funding from outside Hungary to register as “foreign funded” and subject them to excessive sanctions and obligations, Human Rights Watch and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee said today. Parliament is set to vote on the draft law on June 13, 2017.
Continue ReadingSince the elections in 2010, the current governing party has systematically undermined the rule of law in Hungary, seriously disrupting the system of checks and balances. On 7 April 2017, governing party MPs submitted to the Hungarian Parliament Bill T/14967.
Continue ReadingOn 7 April 2017, a Bill on NGOs receiving foreign funds was submitted to the Hungarian Parliament, setting out that NGOs receiving foreign funds over a certain yearly threshold will have to register themselves and will have to label themselves as organizations receiving foreign funds on their website and in their publications.
Continue ReadingRESOLUTION The work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is essential to Hungarian society. We conduct diverse and irreplaceable work while striving for the common good and the achievement of democracy: the self-organisation of citizens provides shared opportunities for cultural, educational, health and environmental advocacy.
Continue ReadingFor the rule of law and human rights in Hungary – our 25 main achievements in 2016 We gave 832 clients free legal advice about police measures, ill-treatment and their rights in detention. 2800 asylum-seekers received free legal advice about the asylum procedure, their rights in detention and family reunification.
Continue ReadingThe Hungarian Helsinki Committee, together with other 14 Hungarian human rights NGOs have urged the respective committee to recommend that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rejects the candidates nominated by the Hungarian Government to be the next Hungarian judge at the European Court of Human Rights.
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