| HUNGARY Republic of Hungary Magyar Koztarsasag Joined United Nations: 14 December 1955 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 10/13/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Budapest
9,905,596 (July 2010 est.)
Viktor Orban
Prime Minister since 29 May 2010
Prime Minister since 29 May 2010
President elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 29 June 2010
Next scheduled election: June 2015
(eligible for a second term); election last held 29 June 2010
Next scheduled election: June 2015
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
Prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the president; election last held 11 and 25
April 2010
Next scheduled election: April 2014
recommendation of the president; election last held 11 and 25
April 2010
Next scheduled election: April 2014
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Hungarian 92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% (2001 census)
| RELIGIONS |
Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek Catholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%, unaffiliated
14.5% (2001 census)
14.5% (2001 census)
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Parliamentary democracy with 19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 23 urban counties (singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city
(fovaros); Legal system is based German-Austrian legal system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Executive: President elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 June 2010
(next to be held by June 2015); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; election last held
29 May 2010
Legislative: Unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of
proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 and 25 April 2010 (next to be held in April 2014)
Judicial: Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly for nine-year terms)
(fovaros); Legal system is based German-Austrian legal system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Executive: President elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 June 2010
(next to be held by June 2015); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; election last held
29 May 2010
Legislative: Unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of
proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 and 25 April 2010 (next to be held in April 2014)
Judicial: Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly for nine-year terms)
| LANGUAGES |
Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census)
| BRIEF HISTORY |
Neolithic settlement begins with the Körös culture, carbon-dated to around 6200 BC. The Middle Neolithic sees the Western
Linear Pottery culture in Transdanubia and the Szatmar and Eastern Linear pottery (called "Alföld Linear Pottery" in Hungary) in the
East, developing into Želiezovce (Slovakia) and Szakalhat and Bükk, respectively. The Late Neolithic Tisza culture is followed by
the eneolithic Tiszapolgár and Bodrogkeresztúr cultures. There are no written issues from the Iron Age (700-500 BC), but some
scholars try to identify people later mentioned in the written sources -- Dacians (generally considered to be the ancestors of the
Romanians) east of the Tisza, and Illyrians (Pannonians) west of the Danube -- but this is highly speculative. The Celts came from
the west around 450 BC, and they expanded over the whole of present-day Hungary in the Late Iron Age. The Roman Empire
subdued the Pannonians, Dacians, Celts and other peoples in this territory. The territory west of the Danube was conquered by the
Roman Empire between 35 and 9 BC, and became a province of the Roman Empire under the name of Pannonia. In 375 AD, the
nomadic Huns, most likely of diverse origin with a Turkic-speaking aristocracy, began invading Europe from the eastern steppes,
instigating the Great Age of Migrations. In 380, the Huns penetrated into the Pannonian Basin, and remained an important factor in
the region well into the 400s. The Germanic Ostrogoths inhabited Pannonia, with Rome's consent, between 456 and 471. The first
Slavs came to the region, almost certainly from the north, soon after the departure of the Ostrogoths (471 AD). The nomadic Avars
arrived from Asia in the 560s, utterly destroyed the Gepidi in the east, drove away the Lombards in the west, and subjugated the
Slavs, partly assimilating them. The commonly accepted view of the origin of the Magyars (known as Hungarians in English) is that
they were nomadic people, with indeterminate and disputed origin from the Eurasian plains until the end of the 9th century AD. They
were organized as a confederation of seven Magyar and three allied Khazar tribes; the name Hungary / Hungarian is most probably
derived from the Turkish term Onogur meaning 'Ten Arrows', signifying united military strength in nomadic symbolism. In 896 they
settled in Transylvania ("Exinde montes descenderunt per tres menses et deveniunt in confinium regni Hungariae, scilicet in Erdelw")
from where they took possession of Pannonia. Hungary was established as a Christian kingdom under Stephen I of Hungary, who
was crowned in December 1000 AD in the capital, Esztergom. What emerged was a strong kingdom that withstood attacks from
German kings and Emperors, and nomadic tribes following the Magyars from the East, integrating some of the latter into the
population (along with Germans invited to Transylvania and present-day Slovakia, especially after 1242), and subjugating Croatia in
1102. In 1241/1242, this kingdom received one major blow in the form of the Mongol invasion of Europe: after the defeat of the
Hungarian army in the Battle of Muhi, King Béla IV fled, and a large part (though not as great as suspected by historians earlier) of
the population died (leading later to the invitation of settlers from neighbours in the West and South) in the ensuing destruction
(Tatárjárás). Only strongly fortified cities and abbeys could withstand the assault. Through the centuries the Kingdom of Hungary
kept its old "constitution", based on freedom of nobles, privileged people (Saxons, Jász-kuns) and free royal towns such as Buda,
Kassa (Košice), Pressburg (Pozsony, today Bratislava), Kolozsvár (today Cluj-Napoca). After some 150 years of wars with the
Ottoman Empire in the south, the Turks conquered parts of Hungary, and continued their expansion until 1556. With the conquest
of Buda in 1541 by the Turks, Hungary fell into three parts. The north-western part (Present-day Slovakia, western Transdanubia,
present-day Burgenland, western Croatia and parts of north-eastern present-day Hungary) remained under the rule of the
Habsburgs, and although formally was independent, subsequently became a province of their empire under the informal name Royal
Hungary. The Habsburg Emperors were crowned as Kings of Hungary. Pozsony (Pressburg, today: Bratislava) became the new
capital (1536-1784), coronation town (1563-1830) and seat of the Diet (1536-1848) of Hungary. Trnava in turn, became the
religious center in 1541. Parallelly, between 1604 and 1711, there was a series of anti-Habsburg (i.e. anti-Austrian) and anti-
Catholic (requiring equal rights and freedom for all Christian religions) uprisings, which – with the exception of the last one – took
place in Royal Hungary, more exactly on the territory of present-day Slovakia. Following the defeat of Ottoman forces led by
Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha at the Second Siege of Vienna in 1683, at the hands of the combined armies of Poland and the
Holy Roman Empire under Jan III Sobieski, was the decisive event that marked the beginning of the Stagnation of the Ottoman
Empire, and ultimately swung the balance of power in the region. Under the terms of the Treaty of Karlowitz, which ended the
Great Turkish War in 1699, the Ottomans ceded nearly all of the Hungarian pashalik. The new territories where united with that of
"Royal Hungary", and where, albeit mostly formal, a Diet seated in Pressburg (Bratislava) ruled the lands. The term "Royal Hungary"
fell into disuse, and the Habsburg Kings addressed the country with the term "Kingdom of Hungary". Influenced by the French
revolution, and in response to attempts at Germanisation by Joseph II (ruled 1780-1790), there emerged a national revival
movement in Hungary of the Magyars, but also of all the other non-Magyar nationalities living in the Kingdom of Hungary. On
March 15, 1848, mass demonstrations in Pest and Buda enabled Hungarian reformists to push through a list of 12 demands. Faced
with revolution both at home and in Vienna, Austria first had to accept Hungarian demands. Later, under governor Lajos Kossuth
and the first Prime minister, Lajos Batthyány, the House of Habsburg was dethroned and the form of government was changed to
create the first Republic of Hungary. Following the war of 1848-49, the whole country was in "passive resistance". Due to external
and internal problems, reforms seemed inevitable to secure the integrity of the Habsburg Empire. Major military defeats, like the
Battle of Königgrätz (1866), forced the Emperor to concede internal reforms. To appease Hungarian separatism, the Emperor
made a deal with the Hungarian nobility led by Ferenc Deák, called the Compromise of 1867, by which the dual Monarchy of
Austria-Hungary came into existence. In First World War Hungary was fighting on the side of Austria. In 1918, as a result of defeat
in World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy collapsed. On October 31, 1918, the success of the Aster Revolution in
Budapest brought the liberal count Mihály Károlyi to power as Prime-Minister. The new government officially declared Hungary an
independent republic on November 16, after the end of the war. In January 1920, Hungarian men and women cast the first secret
ballots in the country's political history. The voting was not totally democratic, because the entire left-wing either boycotted or was
excluded from the voting. The Great Depression induced a drop in the standard of living and the political mood of the country
shifted further toward the right. On 20 November 1940, under pressure from Germany, Pál Teleki affiliated Hungary with the
Tripartite Pact. In December of 1940, he also signed an ephemeral "Treaty of Eternal Friendship" with Yugoslavia. A few months
later, after a Yugoslavian coup threatened the success of the planned German invasion on the Soviets (Operation Barbarossa),
Hitler asked Hungarians to support his invasion of Yugoslavia. The Soviet Army occupied Hungary from September 1944 until
April 1945. It took almost 2 months to conquer Budapest and almost the whole city was destroyed. By signing the Peace Treaty of
Paris, Hungary again lost all the territories that it gained between 1938 and 1941. Neither Western Allies nor the Soviet Union
supported any change in Hungary's pre-1938 borders. The Soviet Union itself annexed Sub-Carpathia, which is now part of
Ukraine. On October 23 1956, a peaceful student demonstration in Budapest produced a list of 16 demands for reform and greater
political freedom. As the students attempted to broadcast these demands, police made some arrests and tried to disperse the crowd
with tear gas. When the students attempted to free those arrested, the police opened fire on the crowd, setting off a chain of events
which lead to the Hungarian Revolution. On the day of the 1956 Revolution, October 23, 1989 the Hungarian Republic was
officially declared (by the provisional President of the Republic Mátyás Szűrös), replacing the Hungarian People's Republic. The
revised constitution also championed the "values of bourgeois democracy and democratic socialism" and gave equal status to public
and private property. In the elections of April 2006, Hungary decided to keep its government in place for the first time in the history
of the Third Hungarian Republic.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Hungary
Linear Pottery culture in Transdanubia and the Szatmar and Eastern Linear pottery (called "Alföld Linear Pottery" in Hungary) in the
East, developing into Želiezovce (Slovakia) and Szakalhat and Bükk, respectively. The Late Neolithic Tisza culture is followed by
the eneolithic Tiszapolgár and Bodrogkeresztúr cultures. There are no written issues from the Iron Age (700-500 BC), but some
scholars try to identify people later mentioned in the written sources -- Dacians (generally considered to be the ancestors of the
Romanians) east of the Tisza, and Illyrians (Pannonians) west of the Danube -- but this is highly speculative. The Celts came from
the west around 450 BC, and they expanded over the whole of present-day Hungary in the Late Iron Age. The Roman Empire
subdued the Pannonians, Dacians, Celts and other peoples in this territory. The territory west of the Danube was conquered by the
Roman Empire between 35 and 9 BC, and became a province of the Roman Empire under the name of Pannonia. In 375 AD, the
nomadic Huns, most likely of diverse origin with a Turkic-speaking aristocracy, began invading Europe from the eastern steppes,
instigating the Great Age of Migrations. In 380, the Huns penetrated into the Pannonian Basin, and remained an important factor in
the region well into the 400s. The Germanic Ostrogoths inhabited Pannonia, with Rome's consent, between 456 and 471. The first
Slavs came to the region, almost certainly from the north, soon after the departure of the Ostrogoths (471 AD). The nomadic Avars
arrived from Asia in the 560s, utterly destroyed the Gepidi in the east, drove away the Lombards in the west, and subjugated the
Slavs, partly assimilating them. The commonly accepted view of the origin of the Magyars (known as Hungarians in English) is that
they were nomadic people, with indeterminate and disputed origin from the Eurasian plains until the end of the 9th century AD. They
were organized as a confederation of seven Magyar and three allied Khazar tribes; the name Hungary / Hungarian is most probably
derived from the Turkish term Onogur meaning 'Ten Arrows', signifying united military strength in nomadic symbolism. In 896 they
settled in Transylvania ("Exinde montes descenderunt per tres menses et deveniunt in confinium regni Hungariae, scilicet in Erdelw")
from where they took possession of Pannonia. Hungary was established as a Christian kingdom under Stephen I of Hungary, who
was crowned in December 1000 AD in the capital, Esztergom. What emerged was a strong kingdom that withstood attacks from
German kings and Emperors, and nomadic tribes following the Magyars from the East, integrating some of the latter into the
population (along with Germans invited to Transylvania and present-day Slovakia, especially after 1242), and subjugating Croatia in
1102. In 1241/1242, this kingdom received one major blow in the form of the Mongol invasion of Europe: after the defeat of the
Hungarian army in the Battle of Muhi, King Béla IV fled, and a large part (though not as great as suspected by historians earlier) of
the population died (leading later to the invitation of settlers from neighbours in the West and South) in the ensuing destruction
(Tatárjárás). Only strongly fortified cities and abbeys could withstand the assault. Through the centuries the Kingdom of Hungary
kept its old "constitution", based on freedom of nobles, privileged people (Saxons, Jász-kuns) and free royal towns such as Buda,
Kassa (Košice), Pressburg (Pozsony, today Bratislava), Kolozsvár (today Cluj-Napoca). After some 150 years of wars with the
Ottoman Empire in the south, the Turks conquered parts of Hungary, and continued their expansion until 1556. With the conquest
of Buda in 1541 by the Turks, Hungary fell into three parts. The north-western part (Present-day Slovakia, western Transdanubia,
present-day Burgenland, western Croatia and parts of north-eastern present-day Hungary) remained under the rule of the
Habsburgs, and although formally was independent, subsequently became a province of their empire under the informal name Royal
Hungary. The Habsburg Emperors were crowned as Kings of Hungary. Pozsony (Pressburg, today: Bratislava) became the new
capital (1536-1784), coronation town (1563-1830) and seat of the Diet (1536-1848) of Hungary. Trnava in turn, became the
religious center in 1541. Parallelly, between 1604 and 1711, there was a series of anti-Habsburg (i.e. anti-Austrian) and anti-
Catholic (requiring equal rights and freedom for all Christian religions) uprisings, which – with the exception of the last one – took
place in Royal Hungary, more exactly on the territory of present-day Slovakia. Following the defeat of Ottoman forces led by
Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha at the Second Siege of Vienna in 1683, at the hands of the combined armies of Poland and the
Holy Roman Empire under Jan III Sobieski, was the decisive event that marked the beginning of the Stagnation of the Ottoman
Empire, and ultimately swung the balance of power in the region. Under the terms of the Treaty of Karlowitz, which ended the
Great Turkish War in 1699, the Ottomans ceded nearly all of the Hungarian pashalik. The new territories where united with that of
"Royal Hungary", and where, albeit mostly formal, a Diet seated in Pressburg (Bratislava) ruled the lands. The term "Royal Hungary"
fell into disuse, and the Habsburg Kings addressed the country with the term "Kingdom of Hungary". Influenced by the French
revolution, and in response to attempts at Germanisation by Joseph II (ruled 1780-1790), there emerged a national revival
movement in Hungary of the Magyars, but also of all the other non-Magyar nationalities living in the Kingdom of Hungary. On
March 15, 1848, mass demonstrations in Pest and Buda enabled Hungarian reformists to push through a list of 12 demands. Faced
with revolution both at home and in Vienna, Austria first had to accept Hungarian demands. Later, under governor Lajos Kossuth
and the first Prime minister, Lajos Batthyány, the House of Habsburg was dethroned and the form of government was changed to
create the first Republic of Hungary. Following the war of 1848-49, the whole country was in "passive resistance". Due to external
and internal problems, reforms seemed inevitable to secure the integrity of the Habsburg Empire. Major military defeats, like the
Battle of Königgrätz (1866), forced the Emperor to concede internal reforms. To appease Hungarian separatism, the Emperor
made a deal with the Hungarian nobility led by Ferenc Deák, called the Compromise of 1867, by which the dual Monarchy of
Austria-Hungary came into existence. In First World War Hungary was fighting on the side of Austria. In 1918, as a result of defeat
in World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy collapsed. On October 31, 1918, the success of the Aster Revolution in
Budapest brought the liberal count Mihály Károlyi to power as Prime-Minister. The new government officially declared Hungary an
independent republic on November 16, after the end of the war. In January 1920, Hungarian men and women cast the first secret
ballots in the country's political history. The voting was not totally democratic, because the entire left-wing either boycotted or was
excluded from the voting. The Great Depression induced a drop in the standard of living and the political mood of the country
shifted further toward the right. On 20 November 1940, under pressure from Germany, Pál Teleki affiliated Hungary with the
Tripartite Pact. In December of 1940, he also signed an ephemeral "Treaty of Eternal Friendship" with Yugoslavia. A few months
later, after a Yugoslavian coup threatened the success of the planned German invasion on the Soviets (Operation Barbarossa),
Hitler asked Hungarians to support his invasion of Yugoslavia. The Soviet Army occupied Hungary from September 1944 until
April 1945. It took almost 2 months to conquer Budapest and almost the whole city was destroyed. By signing the Peace Treaty of
Paris, Hungary again lost all the territories that it gained between 1938 and 1941. Neither Western Allies nor the Soviet Union
supported any change in Hungary's pre-1938 borders. The Soviet Union itself annexed Sub-Carpathia, which is now part of
Ukraine. On October 23 1956, a peaceful student demonstration in Budapest produced a list of 16 demands for reform and greater
political freedom. As the students attempted to broadcast these demands, police made some arrests and tried to disperse the crowd
with tear gas. When the students attempted to free those arrested, the police opened fire on the crowd, setting off a chain of events
which lead to the Hungarian Revolution. On the day of the 1956 Revolution, October 23, 1989 the Hungarian Republic was
officially declared (by the provisional President of the Republic Mátyás Szűrös), replacing the Hungarian People's Republic. The
revised constitution also championed the "values of bourgeois democracy and democratic socialism" and gave equal status to public
and private property. In the elections of April 2006, Hungary decided to keep its government in place for the first time in the history
of the Third Hungarian Republic.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Hungary
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to a market economy, with a per capita income nearly two-thirds that of
the EU-25 average. The private sector accounts for more than 80% of GDP. Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian
firms is widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totaling more than $200 billion since 1989. The government's austerity
measures, imposed since late 2006, have reduced the budget deficit from over 9% of GDP in 2006 to 3.3% in 2008. Hungary's
impending inability to service its short-term debt - brought on by the global financial crisis in late 2008 - led Budapest to seek and
receive an IMF-arranged financial assistance package worth over $25 billion. The global economic downturn, declining exports,
and low domestic consumption and fixed asset accumulation, dampened by government austerity measures, resulted in an economic
contraction of 6.7% in 2009.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Hungary)
the EU-25 average. The private sector accounts for more than 80% of GDP. Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian
firms is widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totaling more than $200 billion since 1989. The government's austerity
measures, imposed since late 2006, have reduced the budget deficit from over 9% of GDP in 2006 to 3.3% in 2008. Hungary's
impending inability to service its short-term debt - brought on by the global financial crisis in late 2008 - led Budapest to seek and
receive an IMF-arranged financial assistance package worth over $25 billion. The global economic downturn, declining exports,
and low domestic consumption and fixed asset accumulation, dampened by government austerity measures, resulted in an economic
contraction of 6.7% in 2009.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Hungary)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
Due to the Hungarian Constitution, based on the post-WWII Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Prime Minister
has a leading role in the executive branch as he selects Cabinet ministers and has the exclusive right to dismiss them (similarly to the
competences of the German federal chancellor). Each cabinet nominee appears before one or more parliamentary committees in
consultative open hearings, survive a vote by the Parliament and must be formally approved by the president.
The unicameral, 386-member National Assembly (Országgyűlés) is the highest organ of state authority and initiates and approves
legislation sponsored by the prime minister. The National Assembly (Országgyűlés) has 386 members, elected for a four year term.
176 members are elected in single-seat constituencies, 152 by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies, and 58 so-
called compensation seats are distributed based on the number of votes "lost" (i.e., the votes that did not produce a seat) in either
the single-seat or the multi-seat constituencies. The election threshold is 5%, but it only applies to the multi-seat constituencies and
the compensation seats, not the single-seat constituencies.
The parliamentary elections in Hungary 2010 were held on 11 April and 25 April 2010. They are the sixth free elections after the
end of communist era. The 386 members of parliament are to be elected in a combined system of party lists and electoral
constituencies.In the first round of the elections, the conservative party Fidesz won the absolute majority of seats, enough to form a
government on its own. In the second round Fidesz-KDNP candidates won enough seats to achieve a two-thirds majority required
to modify major laws and the country's constitution. An indirect presidential election was held in Hungary on 29 June 2010. The
Prime Minister's nominee Pál Schmitt was elected by an overwhelming majority.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Hungary
has a leading role in the executive branch as he selects Cabinet ministers and has the exclusive right to dismiss them (similarly to the
competences of the German federal chancellor). Each cabinet nominee appears before one or more parliamentary committees in
consultative open hearings, survive a vote by the Parliament and must be formally approved by the president.
The unicameral, 386-member National Assembly (Országgyűlés) is the highest organ of state authority and initiates and approves
legislation sponsored by the prime minister. The National Assembly (Országgyűlés) has 386 members, elected for a four year term.
176 members are elected in single-seat constituencies, 152 by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies, and 58 so-
called compensation seats are distributed based on the number of votes "lost" (i.e., the votes that did not produce a seat) in either
the single-seat or the multi-seat constituencies. The election threshold is 5%, but it only applies to the multi-seat constituencies and
the compensation seats, not the single-seat constituencies.
The parliamentary elections in Hungary 2010 were held on 11 April and 25 April 2010. They are the sixth free elections after the
end of communist era. The 386 members of parliament are to be elected in a combined system of party lists and electoral
constituencies.In the first round of the elections, the conservative party Fidesz won the absolute majority of seats, enough to form a
government on its own. In the second round Fidesz-KDNP candidates won enough seats to achieve a two-thirds majority required
to modify major laws and the country's constitution. An indirect presidential election was held in Hungary on 29 June 2010. The
Prime Minister's nominee Pál Schmitt was elected by an overwhelming majority.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Hungary
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
Bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continue in 2006 with Slovakia over Hungary's
failure to complete its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that
forms part of the EU's external border, Hungary has implemented the strict Schengen border rules.
failure to complete its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that
forms part of the EU's external border, Hungary has implemented the strict Schengen border rules.
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) |
None reported.
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
Transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe;
limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; efforts to counter money
laundering, related to organized crime and drug trafficking, are improving, but remain vulnerable; significant consumer of ecstasy
limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; efforts to counter money
laundering, related to organized crime and drug trafficking, are improving, but remain vulnerable; significant consumer of ecstasy
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
2009 Human Rights Report: Hungary
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Right Practices
March 11, 2010
Hungary is a republic with a population of approximately 10 million and a multiparty parliamentary democracy. Legislative authority is
vested in the unicameral parliament (National Assembly). The National Assembly elects the head of state, the president, every five years.
The president appoints a prime minister from the majority party or coalition. The National Assembly elections in 2006 were assessed as
free and fair. On April 14, parliament passed a constructive vote of no confidence that removed the minority Socialist government led by
Ferenc Gyurcsany and installed a new minority government headed by Gordon Bajnai. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective
control of the security forces.
Human rights problems included:
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Right Practices
March 11, 2010
Hungary is a republic with a population of approximately 10 million and a multiparty parliamentary democracy. Legislative authority is
vested in the unicameral parliament (National Assembly). The National Assembly elects the head of state, the president, every five years.
The president appoints a prime minister from the majority party or coalition. The National Assembly elections in 2006 were assessed as
free and fair. On April 14, parliament passed a constructive vote of no confidence that removed the minority Socialist government led by
Ferenc Gyurcsany and installed a new minority government headed by Gordon Bajnai. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective
control of the security forces.
Human rights problems included:
- police use of excessive force against suspects, particularly Roma;
- government corruption;
- societal violence against women and children;
- sexual harassment of women;
- trafficking in persons.
- Other problems worsened, such as extremist violence and harsh rhetoric against ethnic and religious minority groups.
- Extremists increasingly targeted Roma, resulting in the deaths of four Roma and multiple injuries to others.
- Discrimination against Roma in education, housing, employment, and access to social services continued.
4 January 2007
Human Rights Council
Fourth session Item 2 of the provisional agenda
IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251
OF 15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL”
Report of the Independent Expert on minority issues
Addendum
MISSION TO HUNGARY*
(26 June-3 July 2006)
Summary
The Independent Expert on minority issues, Ms. Gay McDougall, in pursuance of her mandate, visited Hungary from 25 June to 4 July
2006. During the course of her visit, the Independent Expert held numerous consultations in Budapest, and undertook visits to Roma
communities in the Pecs region and to other groups to see first hand the situation of minorities and to consult directly with community
members.
The Independent Expert highlights that the Hungarian Government has demonstrated significant political will and dedicated considerable
resources and attention to address the needs of, and problems faced by minorities in general. She considers the unique Hungarian system
of minority self-governments to be a valuable contribution to efforts to enable cultural autonomy for many officially recognized minority
groups in Hungary. However, at the local level, due to higher priority needs of Roma communities facing severe discrimination,
exclusion and poverty, the system has largely been diverted from its intended function to preserve Roma culture, identity and language.
The Roma have been the most affected by Hungary’s difficult transition period from socialism to a market-based economy. Economic
decline and privatization of State industries caused a disproportionately high percentage of employed Roma to lose their jobs. Nationwide
Roma unemployment rates continue to greatly exceed those of other minorities and the majority population, exacerbated by exclusion
from labour markets due to widespread discrimination and anti-Roma prejudice.
Statistics reveal a life expectancy for Roma of over 10 years less than that of the general population. Education of Roma is characterized
by widespread segregation on racial grounds and poor educational opportunities, particularly for Roma girls. Thousands of Roma live
without running water, electricity and other basic services. The Roma population face serious discrimination, exclusion and unusually
high levels of poverty. These problems place particular burdens on Roma women who play the primary role in fashioning coping
mechanisms for their families and who must also negotiate the unique limitations placed on them in the larger society due to their status
as women.
Click here to read more »
Human Rights Council
Fourth session Item 2 of the provisional agenda
IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251
OF 15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL”
Report of the Independent Expert on minority issues
Addendum
MISSION TO HUNGARY*
(26 June-3 July 2006)
Summary
The Independent Expert on minority issues, Ms. Gay McDougall, in pursuance of her mandate, visited Hungary from 25 June to 4 July
2006. During the course of her visit, the Independent Expert held numerous consultations in Budapest, and undertook visits to Roma
communities in the Pecs region and to other groups to see first hand the situation of minorities and to consult directly with community
members.
The Independent Expert highlights that the Hungarian Government has demonstrated significant political will and dedicated considerable
resources and attention to address the needs of, and problems faced by minorities in general. She considers the unique Hungarian system
of minority self-governments to be a valuable contribution to efforts to enable cultural autonomy for many officially recognized minority
groups in Hungary. However, at the local level, due to higher priority needs of Roma communities facing severe discrimination,
exclusion and poverty, the system has largely been diverted from its intended function to preserve Roma culture, identity and language.
The Roma have been the most affected by Hungary’s difficult transition period from socialism to a market-based economy. Economic
decline and privatization of State industries caused a disproportionately high percentage of employed Roma to lose their jobs. Nationwide
Roma unemployment rates continue to greatly exceed those of other minorities and the majority population, exacerbated by exclusion
from labour markets due to widespread discrimination and anti-Roma prejudice.
Statistics reveal a life expectancy for Roma of over 10 years less than that of the general population. Education of Roma is characterized
by widespread segregation on racial grounds and poor educational opportunities, particularly for Roma girls. Thousands of Roma live
without running water, electricity and other basic services. The Roma population face serious discrimination, exclusion and unusually
high levels of poverty. These problems place particular burdens on Roma women who play the primary role in fashioning coping
mechanisms for their families and who must also negotiate the unique limitations placed on them in the larger society due to their status
as women.
Click here to read more »
Freedom In The World 2010 Report
Political Rights Score: 1
Civil Liberties Score: 1
Status: Free
Overview
Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany announced his resignation in March 2009 and was replaced by Economy Minister Gordon Bajnai in
April. Right-wing parties dominated Hungary’s European Parliament elections in June, as the ruling Hungarian Socialist Party was
accused of failing to implement adequate reforms amid the global economic crisis. Also in 2009, the Romany community faced a wave
of violent attacks.
A ruling coalition consisting of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP) and the Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz) won reelection in April
2006, taking 210 seats in the National Assembly after a campaign in which Viktor Orban, leader of the conservative opposition Fidesz
party, stressed populist themes. In September 2006, comments that Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany had made at a closed party
meeting in May, in which he admitted that his government had repeatedly lied to the electorate about its budgetary and economic
performance, were leaked to the press. The revelation sparked major riots and severely damaged public confidence in the government as
it struggled to rein in a budget deficit equal to 9 percent of gross domestic product.
In late March 2008, the SzDSz withdrew from the coalition to protest the unilateral dismissal of the health minister, leaving the
government with just 190 of the 386 parliament seats. However, the prime minister shuffled the cabinet and rejected calls for a
confidence vote. In March 2009, Gyurcsany announced his resignation amid accusations that he had failed to adequately address the
country’s fiscal problems in the face of a global economic crisis that struck in late 2008. Following a constructive vote of no confidence
in April, Economy Minister Gordon Bajnai, an independent, was approved as the new prime minister with support from the MSzP and
SzDSz.
In the June 2009 European Parliament elections, Fidesz won 14 of Hungary’s 22 seats, and the MSzP took four. The Movement for a
Better Hungary (Jobbik), a far-right party, won three seats, and the SzDSz carried only one.
Hungary is an electoral democracy. Voters elect representatives every four years to the 386-seat, unicameral National Assembly under a
mixed system of proportional and direct representation. The National Assembly elects both the president, whose duties are mainly
ceremonial, and the prime minister. Elections in Hungary have been generally free and fair since the end of communist rule.
The main political parties are the MSzP and the conservative Fidesz, which has adopted an increasingly nationalist stance in recent years.
The liberal SzDSz, which supports free-market policies, is the third-largest party but only narrowly cleared the 5 percent vote threshold
to enter the parliament in 2002 and 2006.
Hungary’s constitution guarantees the right of ethnic minorities to form self-governing bodies, and all 13 recognized minorities have done
so. Despite the large population of Roma, only a small number have been elected to the National Assembly in recent elections. In March
2007, local minority representatives for the first time elected county-level governing bodies. However, the entities are limited to cultural
affairs and lack jurisdiction over housing, education, and health matters.
Click here to read more »
Political Rights Score: 1
Civil Liberties Score: 1
Status: Free
Overview
Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany announced his resignation in March 2009 and was replaced by Economy Minister Gordon Bajnai in
April. Right-wing parties dominated Hungary’s European Parliament elections in June, as the ruling Hungarian Socialist Party was
accused of failing to implement adequate reforms amid the global economic crisis. Also in 2009, the Romany community faced a wave
of violent attacks.
A ruling coalition consisting of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP) and the Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz) won reelection in April
2006, taking 210 seats in the National Assembly after a campaign in which Viktor Orban, leader of the conservative opposition Fidesz
party, stressed populist themes. In September 2006, comments that Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany had made at a closed party
meeting in May, in which he admitted that his government had repeatedly lied to the electorate about its budgetary and economic
performance, were leaked to the press. The revelation sparked major riots and severely damaged public confidence in the government as
it struggled to rein in a budget deficit equal to 9 percent of gross domestic product.
In late March 2008, the SzDSz withdrew from the coalition to protest the unilateral dismissal of the health minister, leaving the
government with just 190 of the 386 parliament seats. However, the prime minister shuffled the cabinet and rejected calls for a
confidence vote. In March 2009, Gyurcsany announced his resignation amid accusations that he had failed to adequately address the
country’s fiscal problems in the face of a global economic crisis that struck in late 2008. Following a constructive vote of no confidence
in April, Economy Minister Gordon Bajnai, an independent, was approved as the new prime minister with support from the MSzP and
SzDSz.
In the June 2009 European Parliament elections, Fidesz won 14 of Hungary’s 22 seats, and the MSzP took four. The Movement for a
Better Hungary (Jobbik), a far-right party, won three seats, and the SzDSz carried only one.
Hungary is an electoral democracy. Voters elect representatives every four years to the 386-seat, unicameral National Assembly under a
mixed system of proportional and direct representation. The National Assembly elects both the president, whose duties are mainly
ceremonial, and the prime minister. Elections in Hungary have been generally free and fair since the end of communist rule.
The main political parties are the MSzP and the conservative Fidesz, which has adopted an increasingly nationalist stance in recent years.
The liberal SzDSz, which supports free-market policies, is the third-largest party but only narrowly cleared the 5 percent vote threshold
to enter the parliament in 2002 and 2006.
Hungary’s constitution guarantees the right of ethnic minorities to form self-governing bodies, and all 13 recognized minorities have done
so. Despite the large population of Roma, only a small number have been elected to the National Assembly in recent elections. In March
2007, local minority representatives for the first time elected county-level governing bodies. However, the entities are limited to cultural
affairs and lack jurisdiction over housing, education, and health matters.
Click here to read more »
Legal loopholes allow European companies to trade in 'tools of torture'
16 March 2010
European companies are participating in the global trade in types of equipment widely used in torture or other ill-treatment, according to
evidence presented in a new report by Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation.
Fixed wall restraints, metal "thumb-cuffs", and electroshock "sleeves" and "cuffs" that deliver 50,000V shocks to detained prisoners are
amongst the "tools of torture" highlighted in the report, From Words to Deeds, which was published on Wednesday.
Such activities have continued despite the 2006 introduction of a Europe-wide law banning the international trade of policing and security
equipment designed for torture and ill-treatment.
The 2006 law also regulates the trade in other equipment widely used in torture around the world.
The report will be formally discussed at the meeting of the European Parliament's Sub-Committee on Human Rights in Brussels on
Thursday.
Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation are calling on the European Commission and EU Member States to close
legislative loopholes highlighted in the report, and for EU Member States to adequately implement and enforce the regulation.
"The introduction of European controls on the trade in 'tools of torture', after a decade of campaigning by human rights organizations,
was a landmark piece of legislation. But three years after these controls came into force, several European states have failed to properly
implement or enforce the law," said Nicolas Beger, Director of Amnesty International's EU office.
"Our research shows that despite the new controls, several Member States, including Germany and the Czech Republic, have since 2006
authorized exports of policing weapons and restraints to at least nine countries where Amnesty International has documented the use of
such equipment in torture," said Brian Wood, Amnesty International's Military Security and Police manager.
"Moreover, only seven states have fulfilled their legal obligations to publicly report their exports under the Regulation. We fear that some
states are not taking their legal obligations seriously.”
Loopholes in the legislation also permit law enforcement suppliers to trade equipment which has no other use but for torture or ill-
treatment.
"As part of their commitments to combat torture wherever it occurs, Member States must now turn their words into deeds. They must
impose truly effective controls on the European trade in policing and security equipment, and ensure that such goods do not become part
of the torturer's toolkit," said Michael Crowley, a researcher for the Omega Research Foundation.
The main findings of the report include:
• Between 2006 and 2009, the Czech Republic issued export licenses covering shackles, electric shock weapons and chemical sprays
to six countries where police and security forces had previously used such equipment for torture and other ill-treatment;
• Germany issued similar licenses to three such countries for exports of foot-chains and chemical sprays;
• Law enforcement equipment suppliers in Italy and Spain have promoted for sale 50,000V electric shock "cuffs" or "sleeves" for use
on prisoners. A legal loophole permits their trade despite essentially similar electric "stun belts" being prohibited for import and export
across the EU;
• In 2005 one EU Member State – Hungary – declared its intention to introduce electric "stun belts" into its own prisons and police
stations, despite the import and export of such belts subsequently being prohibited on the grounds that their use inherently constitutes
torture or ill-treatment;
Click here to read more »
16 March 2010
European companies are participating in the global trade in types of equipment widely used in torture or other ill-treatment, according to
evidence presented in a new report by Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation.
Fixed wall restraints, metal "thumb-cuffs", and electroshock "sleeves" and "cuffs" that deliver 50,000V shocks to detained prisoners are
amongst the "tools of torture" highlighted in the report, From Words to Deeds, which was published on Wednesday.
Such activities have continued despite the 2006 introduction of a Europe-wide law banning the international trade of policing and security
equipment designed for torture and ill-treatment.
The 2006 law also regulates the trade in other equipment widely used in torture around the world.
The report will be formally discussed at the meeting of the European Parliament's Sub-Committee on Human Rights in Brussels on
Thursday.
Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation are calling on the European Commission and EU Member States to close
legislative loopholes highlighted in the report, and for EU Member States to adequately implement and enforce the regulation.
"The introduction of European controls on the trade in 'tools of torture', after a decade of campaigning by human rights organizations,
was a landmark piece of legislation. But three years after these controls came into force, several European states have failed to properly
implement or enforce the law," said Nicolas Beger, Director of Amnesty International's EU office.
"Our research shows that despite the new controls, several Member States, including Germany and the Czech Republic, have since 2006
authorized exports of policing weapons and restraints to at least nine countries where Amnesty International has documented the use of
such equipment in torture," said Brian Wood, Amnesty International's Military Security and Police manager.
"Moreover, only seven states have fulfilled their legal obligations to publicly report their exports under the Regulation. We fear that some
states are not taking their legal obligations seriously.”
Loopholes in the legislation also permit law enforcement suppliers to trade equipment which has no other use but for torture or ill-
treatment.
"As part of their commitments to combat torture wherever it occurs, Member States must now turn their words into deeds. They must
impose truly effective controls on the European trade in policing and security equipment, and ensure that such goods do not become part
of the torturer's toolkit," said Michael Crowley, a researcher for the Omega Research Foundation.
The main findings of the report include:
• Between 2006 and 2009, the Czech Republic issued export licenses covering shackles, electric shock weapons and chemical sprays
to six countries where police and security forces had previously used such equipment for torture and other ill-treatment;
• Germany issued similar licenses to three such countries for exports of foot-chains and chemical sprays;
• Law enforcement equipment suppliers in Italy and Spain have promoted for sale 50,000V electric shock "cuffs" or "sleeves" for use
on prisoners. A legal loophole permits their trade despite essentially similar electric "stun belts" being prohibited for import and export
across the EU;
• In 2005 one EU Member State – Hungary – declared its intention to introduce electric "stun belts" into its own prisons and police
stations, despite the import and export of such belts subsequently being prohibited on the grounds that their use inherently constitutes
torture or ill-treatment;
Click here to read more »
Together, Apart
June 11, 2009
Introduction
This report tries to give a brief picture of a global human rights movement. In country after country, people have come together around
issues of sexuality and gender—to organize against discrimination and abuse, to affirm their freedoms and their desires. These activists
have changed politics and daily life in many places. Yet in some societies, including ones where violence and violations are most severe,
they are still not accepted as full partners by other human rights movements. They have struggled for their own togetherness at
enormous cost. They are still apart.
The report is based on answers to questions Human Rights Watch asked (in surveys and in interviews) to 100 leading sexual rights
activists from some 50 countries, all with long experience in the areas of sexual orientation and gender identity. We did not attempt
quantitative analysis, since primarily we wanted to hear activists’ own words: their own perspectives on the situations they face, and the
strategies they are exploring to confront them. The report’s findings are divided into five regional chapters focusing on conditions in
what is commonly known as the global South and East—as opposed to Western Europe and North America. We chose to concentrate
on those regions because activism around sexuality there faces intense pressures with far fewer resources than elsewhere. The picture
this report presents is meant for multiple audiences. For activists themselves, we hope it will show contrasts and connections between
work in different places. For funders who support human rights organizations, we anticipate it will reveal the range of strategies and
approaches. For a broader audience, we hope it will introduce important voices in contemporary human rights.
III. Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Who would have imagined? Europe, after all, produced the first international legal findings that sexual orientation was protected by the
right to privacy. After the Wall fell in 1989, lesbians and gays were among the first to claim political rights, form organizations,
campaign to end repressive laws. European institutions stood behind them, supporting legal reform and safeguards for intimate life. Boris
Yeltsin repealed Stalin’s sodomy law. Ten years of international pressure led Romania finally to scrap its Ceausescu-era ban on
homosexual sex.
In many countries, movements that trace their origin to 1930s fascism are reviving in skinhead garb. Orthodox churches (some of
which saw their credit damaged by collaboration with Communist regimes) have periodically used controversies over “culture” and
sexuality to revive their political influence and prestige, sometimes allying with neo-fascists.[9] Newer Protestant denominations have
spread in the Baltics and other areas, supported by North American evangelism; they start virtual “competitions,” one activist explained,
“to see which church is the most homophobic.”
In Hungary and Romania, some ministers and parliamentarians have vocally defended LGBT people’s rights. In Poland, however, no
political group is willing to speak out; and a Latvian lesbian says, “We do not have any truly liberal political forces, just some individual
politicians.”
Click here to read more »
June 11, 2009
Introduction
This report tries to give a brief picture of a global human rights movement. In country after country, people have come together around
issues of sexuality and gender—to organize against discrimination and abuse, to affirm their freedoms and their desires. These activists
have changed politics and daily life in many places. Yet in some societies, including ones where violence and violations are most severe,
they are still not accepted as full partners by other human rights movements. They have struggled for their own togetherness at
enormous cost. They are still apart.
The report is based on answers to questions Human Rights Watch asked (in surveys and in interviews) to 100 leading sexual rights
activists from some 50 countries, all with long experience in the areas of sexual orientation and gender identity. We did not attempt
quantitative analysis, since primarily we wanted to hear activists’ own words: their own perspectives on the situations they face, and the
strategies they are exploring to confront them. The report’s findings are divided into five regional chapters focusing on conditions in
what is commonly known as the global South and East—as opposed to Western Europe and North America. We chose to concentrate
on those regions because activism around sexuality there faces intense pressures with far fewer resources than elsewhere. The picture
this report presents is meant for multiple audiences. For activists themselves, we hope it will show contrasts and connections between
work in different places. For funders who support human rights organizations, we anticipate it will reveal the range of strategies and
approaches. For a broader audience, we hope it will introduce important voices in contemporary human rights.
III. Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Who would have imagined? Europe, after all, produced the first international legal findings that sexual orientation was protected by the
right to privacy. After the Wall fell in 1989, lesbians and gays were among the first to claim political rights, form organizations,
campaign to end repressive laws. European institutions stood behind them, supporting legal reform and safeguards for intimate life. Boris
Yeltsin repealed Stalin’s sodomy law. Ten years of international pressure led Romania finally to scrap its Ceausescu-era ban on
homosexual sex.
In many countries, movements that trace their origin to 1930s fascism are reviving in skinhead garb. Orthodox churches (some of
which saw their credit damaged by collaboration with Communist regimes) have periodically used controversies over “culture” and
sexuality to revive their political influence and prestige, sometimes allying with neo-fascists.[9] Newer Protestant denominations have
spread in the Baltics and other areas, supported by North American evangelism; they start virtual “competitions,” one activist explained,
“to see which church is the most homophobic.”
In Hungary and Romania, some ministers and parliamentarians have vocally defended LGBT people’s rights. In Poland, however, no
political group is willing to speak out; and a Latvian lesbian says, “We do not have any truly liberal political forces, just some individual
politicians.”
Click here to read more »
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. PÁL SCHMITT, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY
AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 65th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
New York, September 24, 2010
Mr. President,
The promotion and protection of human rights constitute the cornerstone of Hungary’s foreign policy.
Hungary acts at the forefront of international efforts to fight all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on national or
ethnic origin. We are of the view that the rights of minorities, with special regard to the preservation of their cultural identities and
linguistic heritage, should be high on the agenda of the international community. We believe that flourishing minority communities do not
weaken a society, but on the contrary, they contribute to the cultural enrichment of a country. Fruitful relationships between the majority
and the minority can only be pursued if human rights are not being infringed and tolerance prevails at all levels of society. This is one of
the reasons why Hungary has decided to establish the Budapest based Tom Lantos Institute, an international centre for promoting human
rights and spreading the value of tolerance.
Hungary also feels compelled to raise the issue of women worldwide. The possible role played by women in accelerating the
achievement of MDGs, diminishing tensions and hostilities in the world should not be neglected. We are confident that the recent
establishment of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women marks a significant progress in this regard and will
largely contribute to the elimination of women’s disadvantages.
The United Nations was created, and let me again quote from the preamble of the Charter, in order to "practice tolerance and live
together in peace with one another as good neighbours".
Coexistence and co-operation would serve regional stability in the Western Balkans, a region which, due to its proximity to Hungary’s
borders, has great importance in our foreign policy. In our view, progress towards the stabilization of the region and resolution of its still
existing problems should be the result of an essentially internally driven process, with the unwavering support of the international
community. Hungary respects the recently issued advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo and our country
remains strongly committed to encouraging a direct dialogue between the countries and communities of the region.
Hungary regrets that the recent postponement of the Resolution on the Participation of the European Union in the work of the United
Nations. I can assure all our partners that we are ready to continue consultations to ensure agreement from UN member states on this
important initiative and we look forward to reverting to the General Assembly for a positive decision. As a country to hold the rotating
presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2011, Hungary has a vested interest to find a solution enabling
the EU to contribute in a more effective manner to the activities of the United Nations.
Click here to read more »
AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 65th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
New York, September 24, 2010
Mr. President,
The promotion and protection of human rights constitute the cornerstone of Hungary’s foreign policy.
Hungary acts at the forefront of international efforts to fight all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on national or
ethnic origin. We are of the view that the rights of minorities, with special regard to the preservation of their cultural identities and
linguistic heritage, should be high on the agenda of the international community. We believe that flourishing minority communities do not
weaken a society, but on the contrary, they contribute to the cultural enrichment of a country. Fruitful relationships between the majority
and the minority can only be pursued if human rights are not being infringed and tolerance prevails at all levels of society. This is one of
the reasons why Hungary has decided to establish the Budapest based Tom Lantos Institute, an international centre for promoting human
rights and spreading the value of tolerance.
Hungary also feels compelled to raise the issue of women worldwide. The possible role played by women in accelerating the
achievement of MDGs, diminishing tensions and hostilities in the world should not be neglected. We are confident that the recent
establishment of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women marks a significant progress in this regard and will
largely contribute to the elimination of women’s disadvantages.
The United Nations was created, and let me again quote from the preamble of the Charter, in order to "practice tolerance and live
together in peace with one another as good neighbours".
Coexistence and co-operation would serve regional stability in the Western Balkans, a region which, due to its proximity to Hungary’s
borders, has great importance in our foreign policy. In our view, progress towards the stabilization of the region and resolution of its still
existing problems should be the result of an essentially internally driven process, with the unwavering support of the international
community. Hungary respects the recently issued advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo and our country
remains strongly committed to encouraging a direct dialogue between the countries and communities of the region.
Hungary regrets that the recent postponement of the Resolution on the Participation of the European Union in the work of the United
Nations. I can assure all our partners that we are ready to continue consultations to ensure agreement from UN member states on this
important initiative and we look forward to reverting to the General Assembly for a positive decision. As a country to hold the rotating
presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2011, Hungary has a vested interest to find a solution enabling
the EU to contribute in a more effective manner to the activities of the United Nations.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM HUNGARIAN BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
2010-08-02
Dr. Erno Kallai Roma minority commissioner's thoughts on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
On this day, respectively, now gather every year since 1972, gathers some remember, remember. This day is a memorial day. A terrible,
but more importantly memories őrzünk this way. August 2 is devoted to the International Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Auschwitz-Birkenau, the 1944 year rose from August 2, 3-night cost of the dawned a few hours over a period of thousands of Roma,
including many children murdered by Nazi Germany's racist policies and racist name. Sixty-six years ago in the life of the Roma in
Hungary is in danger: thousands of people have disappeared without trace during the reign of terror of the Nazis. The pharrajimosban fell
victim to a total of about half a million Roma in Auschwitz lelték many thousands of deaths.
August 2 is the memorial day, but also a symbol: it symbolizes that there is something that will never happen. As indicated, shows that
we learn from the past, and committed the horrible bűnökből tolerated. So long as we remember, until we know for sure: whatever
happened once, it will never be repeated, because they do not forget. As long as we remember, the researchers constantly look for
reasons, explanations, which have led to people - the most basic moral and human values Against - speculating unthinkable crime,
victims, perpetrators and the sin against humanity as a whole, irreparably.
That all ethnic groups and how people were able to "exterminate" wanting to watch, be adopted? Perhaps the creepiest of history that is
the question. As long as we remember, look for the answer. Not by accident is said that specific variants of the denial of racism.
Eltagadás More precisely, in knowing the silence, the silence. If you cease to remember, there are no more questions, and ceases to
search for answers. Remember, however, is only possible if there is sufficient knowledge. The history of many decades has brought us
the events that have already been persecuted in the former, some are barely alive Their memory is kept only their relatives. And it
certainly hurts to remember: the remembrance visszaidézett pains hurt, and hurt the ones that face it: we did, other people own,
neighbor, iskolatársunkkal, our people do not like to remember this one as good, clean, want to feel the German human and
understandable for our actions as well.
No wonder, then, if you look around in society, it seems a big problem: with the memories of survivors died. Now becomes an adult
age, a whole generation of people who, even their parents are also more than vague ideas about what happened in Europe in the 1940s.
Many people - and unfortunately more and more people - "dynamism of the youth" is to call into question the truth of events, has been
taken. There is no knowledge, no memories. But the memory is like a vaccine in infants: memories "vaccinated" but at the cost of some
pain, but for humanity are also armed with the new, devastating attacks. A good chance we can trust this. However, they are, many of
the generations growing up today are not vaccinated against the virus, which in 1940 challenged the humanity, and it is our
responsibility. They are not their fault. We need to make the next generation of conservation, we need to preserve the memories,
knowledge and skills. Children should be taught in school about the facts, we need to help them process the incomprehensible and
unprocessable sins, Here's what appeared capable of humanity. Although it is painful to remember, this should be pursued, must share
with others the memories of the man of the future as well.
Click here to read more »
2010-08-02
Dr. Erno Kallai Roma minority commissioner's thoughts on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
On this day, respectively, now gather every year since 1972, gathers some remember, remember. This day is a memorial day. A terrible,
but more importantly memories őrzünk this way. August 2 is devoted to the International Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Auschwitz-Birkenau, the 1944 year rose from August 2, 3-night cost of the dawned a few hours over a period of thousands of Roma,
including many children murdered by Nazi Germany's racist policies and racist name. Sixty-six years ago in the life of the Roma in
Hungary is in danger: thousands of people have disappeared without trace during the reign of terror of the Nazis. The pharrajimosban fell
victim to a total of about half a million Roma in Auschwitz lelték many thousands of deaths.
August 2 is the memorial day, but also a symbol: it symbolizes that there is something that will never happen. As indicated, shows that
we learn from the past, and committed the horrible bűnökből tolerated. So long as we remember, until we know for sure: whatever
happened once, it will never be repeated, because they do not forget. As long as we remember, the researchers constantly look for
reasons, explanations, which have led to people - the most basic moral and human values Against - speculating unthinkable crime,
victims, perpetrators and the sin against humanity as a whole, irreparably.
That all ethnic groups and how people were able to "exterminate" wanting to watch, be adopted? Perhaps the creepiest of history that is
the question. As long as we remember, look for the answer. Not by accident is said that specific variants of the denial of racism.
Eltagadás More precisely, in knowing the silence, the silence. If you cease to remember, there are no more questions, and ceases to
search for answers. Remember, however, is only possible if there is sufficient knowledge. The history of many decades has brought us
the events that have already been persecuted in the former, some are barely alive Their memory is kept only their relatives. And it
certainly hurts to remember: the remembrance visszaidézett pains hurt, and hurt the ones that face it: we did, other people own,
neighbor, iskolatársunkkal, our people do not like to remember this one as good, clean, want to feel the German human and
understandable for our actions as well.
No wonder, then, if you look around in society, it seems a big problem: with the memories of survivors died. Now becomes an adult
age, a whole generation of people who, even their parents are also more than vague ideas about what happened in Europe in the 1940s.
Many people - and unfortunately more and more people - "dynamism of the youth" is to call into question the truth of events, has been
taken. There is no knowledge, no memories. But the memory is like a vaccine in infants: memories "vaccinated" but at the cost of some
pain, but for humanity are also armed with the new, devastating attacks. A good chance we can trust this. However, they are, many of
the generations growing up today are not vaccinated against the virus, which in 1940 challenged the humanity, and it is our
responsibility. They are not their fault. We need to make the next generation of conservation, we need to preserve the memories,
knowledge and skills. Children should be taught in school about the facts, we need to help them process the incomprehensible and
unprocessable sins, Here's what appeared capable of humanity. Although it is painful to remember, this should be pursued, must share
with others the memories of the man of the future as well.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM HUNGARIAN BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
2010th October 13
Signatures have been launched in Slovakia in the free use of mother tongue
The Hungarian Coalition Party (MKP), 2010th October 12, in partnership with civil society organizations launched a petition to free the
Bratislava anyanyelvhasználatért called action. The initiative aims to put pressure on the Slovak government to abolish the law
államnyelvtörvényből the 2010th 24 September only change reduced financial penalties.
Our website to learn more about the government's decision to Bratislava.
Despite the fact that Knut Vollebekk, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities has suggested that the language law
amendments are subject to social debate, and seek the views of civil and minority organizations, the government in Bratislava has not
held an inter-ministerial consultations on the issue. The High Commissioner also called for strong sanctions for material removal.
"The main aim of the action part of the complete elimination of the fines nyelvtörvényből" - said József Berényi, chairman of the
Communist Party of the New Words in Bratislava on 12 October issue page. She added that the best solution of course would be for the
full egésszében language law would be repealed.
The petition reads:
The Slovak Republic, a citizen I demand my signature (s mom) use of language concerning the total elimination of financial penalties,
which negatively affects all minorities in the provision be dropped in the Slovak Republic No. 270/1995 Tt.. on the State Language Law.
The petitions committee of Hungarian and Slovak members agreed to the signature sheets in early December, personally reported to the
parliament for debate before the Government's proposal. The panel members - Berényi Joseph Lajos Grendel, Lajos Gyepes, Hrubík Bela,
Honey Grigory Mesežnikov Rudolf Martin Porubjak, Miroslav Kusý - Csemadok the cultural organization's headquarters in Bratislava
among the first signatories to the petition.
Existing under the laws of the Slovak nationals only to see it signed the signature sheets. The petition sheets downloaded from the HCP
website.
The Hungarian Human Rights Foundation strongly supports the petition for the purpose of criminal use of mother tongue and an
unlimited guarantee for all Slovak citizens. In 2009, university professors have launched a similar initiative in the Slovak language-
minority world-wide in order to delete clauses. The document was signed by several thousand people, to join in, regardless of nationality.
Click here to read more>>
2010th October 13
Signatures have been launched in Slovakia in the free use of mother tongue
The Hungarian Coalition Party (MKP), 2010th October 12, in partnership with civil society organizations launched a petition to free the
Bratislava anyanyelvhasználatért called action. The initiative aims to put pressure on the Slovak government to abolish the law
államnyelvtörvényből the 2010th 24 September only change reduced financial penalties.
Our website to learn more about the government's decision to Bratislava.
Despite the fact that Knut Vollebekk, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities has suggested that the language law
amendments are subject to social debate, and seek the views of civil and minority organizations, the government in Bratislava has not
held an inter-ministerial consultations on the issue. The High Commissioner also called for strong sanctions for material removal.
"The main aim of the action part of the complete elimination of the fines nyelvtörvényből" - said József Berényi, chairman of the
Communist Party of the New Words in Bratislava on 12 October issue page. She added that the best solution of course would be for the
full egésszében language law would be repealed.
The petition reads:
The Slovak Republic, a citizen I demand my signature (s mom) use of language concerning the total elimination of financial penalties,
which negatively affects all minorities in the provision be dropped in the Slovak Republic No. 270/1995 Tt.. on the State Language Law.
The petitions committee of Hungarian and Slovak members agreed to the signature sheets in early December, personally reported to the
parliament for debate before the Government's proposal. The panel members - Berényi Joseph Lajos Grendel, Lajos Gyepes, Hrubík Bela,
Honey Grigory Mesežnikov Rudolf Martin Porubjak, Miroslav Kusý - Csemadok the cultural organization's headquarters in Bratislava
among the first signatories to the petition.
Existing under the laws of the Slovak nationals only to see it signed the signature sheets. The petition sheets downloaded from the HCP
website.
The Hungarian Human Rights Foundation strongly supports the petition for the purpose of criminal use of mother tongue and an
unlimited guarantee for all Slovak citizens. In 2009, university professors have launched a similar initiative in the Slovak language-
minority world-wide in order to delete clauses. The document was signed by several thousand people, to join in, regardless of nationality.
Click here to read more>>
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Pal Schmitt
President since 6 August 2010
President since 6 August 2010
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
None reported.
