Office of the commissioner for fundamental rights of hungary

As parliamentary elections are drawing closer in Hungary, certain increasingly sharp statements that threaten democracy and constitutional order in Hungary have compelled the leaders of fundamental institutions safeguarding the operation and protection of the rule of law to take a firm stand on these matters.

The unconditional respect for others’ dignity and all people’s equality must go hand in hand with reaching out to the vulnerable, and showing solidarity, and responsibility for future generations. It is only with a joint effort and through a dialogue that we can successfully tackle epidemics and any other environmental challenges that may hit humanity – this is the message shared by Dr. Ákos Kozma, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, Dr. Elisabeth Sándor-Szalay, Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities and Dr. Gyula Bándi, Deputy Commissioner for the Interests of Future Generations on the occasion of Human Rights Day.

Regarding the State Audit Office’s right to scrutinize public bodies – an issue raised in a joint submission by the President of the Hungarian Chamber of Civil Law Notaries and the President of the Hungarian Bar Association –, Dr. Ákos Kozma asked the Minister of Justice to look into the possibility to amend Act LXVI of 2011 on the State Audit Office.

Dr. Ákos Kozma, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights and Dr. Gyula Bándi, Deputy Commissioner for the Interests of Future Generations call for enhanced soil protection on the occasion of World Soil Day.

In a society, communication and the – proper – understanding of one another constitute an entitlement per se, and the precondition to exercising other rights, stresses the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. According to Dr. Ákos Kozma, lending an understanding ear to the considerations of people living with disabilities, and ensuring accessible communicative spaces for them in their private and public life is a fundamental task. At the same time, the Ombudsman points out that the importance of this duty is further reinforced by the powerful challenges of the current pandemic.

Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Dr. Ákos Kozma and Ombudsman for Future Generations Dr. Gyula Bándi welcome the campaign called European Week for Waste Reduction to be held between 20 and 28 November, whose goal is to draw attention to the importance of sustainable consumption and circular economy through the different aspects of waste prevention.

“Whenever decisions and measures affecting children are made, the reference point must be the enforcement of children’s rights and giving due consideration to children’s perspective”, Ombudsman Dr. Ákos Kozma reminded on World Children’s Day. The Commissioner for Fundamental Rights called attention to the fact that the pandemic is also a turning point, which gives us an opportunity to review how the world as we know it today could become a better place for our children and the generations to come.

The National Headquarters of the Hungarian Prison Service takes part in the renovation of the Rum Special Children’s Home of Vas County and the Baja Special Group Home maintained by the Saint Agatha Child Welfare Service, courtesy of the coordination efforts between National Commander of the Hungarian Prison Service, Counsellor, Major General Dr. Tamás Tóth and Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Dr. Ákos Kozma.

04/11/2021 – As of 1 November 2021, the tariff rates of mobile phone calls and calls through social media platforms made by detainees will be reduced by six forints per minute. Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Dr. Ákos Kozma welcomes the measure the Hungarian Prison Service Headquarters (HPSH) has taken in response to the conclusions of his Report No. AJB-2236/2021.

A decision made in an administrative proceeding conducted on the issuance of a security guard license caused an impropriety – the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights exposed in his report. Dr. Ákos Kozma established that the legal ground for the decision closing the proceeding conducted in an individual case by the Mohács Police Department and the reason for terminating the proceeding were not justified, and that the Police Department had not taken into consideration the provisions of the Code of General Administrative Procedure (hereinafter: “Ákr.”), and had not provided the possibility to appeal against its terminating order. The Ombudsman initiated at the Head of the Baranya County Police Headquarters that it review the proceeding and the resulting decision as a supervisory organ, and that it take the necessary measures for issuing the license.

The lives of the elderly are affected by the protracted crisis situation, the reshuffling of the structure of communities and comprehensive technological development alike. The balance between the rights and autonomy that the elderly are entitled to, and the burdens and obligations imposed on them is still missing, the vulnerability of older persons is more and more clearly visible all over the world, along with its social, health care and public life dimensions. However, it should become increasingly clear as well that a society cannot develop in a healthy way without its elderly generation, as Ombudsman Dr Ákos Kozma reminds us on the International Day of Older Persons.

The obligation of the state deriving from Article II of the Fundamental Law of Hungary was only partially satisfied in healthcare institutions because different norms apply to workers present in the operating rooms as employees, and to patients receiving healthcare services there – Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Dr. Ákos Kozma concluded in his report.