Topic: Justice
Anybody may become defenceless in the face of the state’s power.
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
HHC position on the 22 August event of the new Hungarian Guard
The HHC issued a statement concerning an event organized by the so-called “New” Magyar Gárda Movement on private premises, on 22 August 2009. In its statement the HHC claimed that the Police should have prevented the Magyar Gárda in holding the event. In the HHC’s view it is clear that the “old” and the “new” Magyar Gárda Movement are the same, and taking part in the dissolved Magyar Gárda Movement and in its leadership constitutes a petty offence and a criminal offence respectively, according to the relevant legal provisions. The HHC expressed the view that the Police had the obligation to take measures in the case also on private premises.
HHC position on the neo-Nazi demonstration planned for 15 August
Article on the dissolution of the Hungarian Guard
HHC position on the 11 July 2009 demonstration of the Hungarian Guard
The extremist right wing party “Jobbik” announced a demonstration to be held on 11 July 2009 on Szabadság Square, in the framework of which the re-foundation of the dissolved Magyar Gárda Movement was announced. The Police did not dissolve the demonstration. In the HHC’s view, the demonstration should have been dissolved, since it constituted a violation of the rights and freedom of others (on the basis of the above argument).
HHC position on the 4 July 2009 demonstration of the Hungarian Guard
On 4 July 2009, the Police dissolved a demonstration held by members of the Magyar Gárda and their sympathizers. The HHC issued a statement according to which the Police had committed a number of failures … Read more
Human rights NGOs file report for incitement to hatred
On 23 June 2009, the HHC, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, the Chance for Children Foundation and the Legal Defense Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities filed a criminal report against T. P., a well-known … Read more
HHC wins lawsuit against Ministry of Social and Labour Affairs in freedom of information case
In a lawsuit filed by the Helsinki Committee, the Metropolitan Appellate Court pronounced on 18 June 2009 that contracts with winners of tenders called for by government bodies are public information, as are documents containing … Read more
Police officers get too light sentence for using degrading treatment against disabled persons
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee finds that the 16 June 2009 ruling of the Pécs Appellate Court is unacceptable, as it reduced the suspended imprisonment imposed in the first instance on police officers from Csurgó, who … Read more