Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union is a human rights NGO. Since our foundation in 1994, we have been working for everybody being informed about their fundamental human rights and empowered to enforce it against the undue interference by those in position of public power.

our focus areas & news

What is Wrong with the Fourth Amendment to the Fundamental Law?

It is a further proof that the governing majority views the Fundamental Law as subservient to the raw force of power and not as a limit on exercising government power.It adds provisions to the Fundamental Law that the Constitutional Court had previously declared unconstitutional.It violates the right to free speech because it enables the oppression of opposing political views and artistic expression.It contradicts the right to human dignity because it opens the door for the State and local governments to criminalize homelessness instead of guaranteeing the right to adequate housing. It discriminates against same sex couples, couples without children and other non-marital forms of familial relationships by leaving them without constitutional protection.It curtails the right to freedom of information and the fundamental principles of free election because it enforces undue restrictions on the publication of campaign materials and other forms of political advertising.It sanctifies the autocratic differentiation between religious groups because Parliament can decide, according to its own will, on whether or not to recognize a church.It violates the principles of fair trial because it allows the head of the judiciary’s administrative body to designate a case to any court arbitrarily.It ends the autonomy of universities and colleges because it subordinates these institutions to the Government in matters pertaining to organization and financial management.By conditioning student aid on post-graduation domestic employment, it imposes disproportionate burdens on university and college students’ right to self-determination and their right to freely choose their occupation.

Instead of the law of rule we want rule of law!

The War on Drugs in Mexico: Is There an Alternative?

Our latest movie provides an insight to the war on drugs in Mexico

Newest Amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law Would Seriously Undermine the Rule of Law

Three Hungarian NGOs, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, the Eötvös Károly Institute and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union addressed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the European Commission Vice-President, Commissioner in Charge of Justice, Human Rights and Citizenship in order to raise their attention to the planned Fourth Amendment to the Fundamental Law of Hungary, threatening the rule of law. The NGOs asked the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to request the Venice Commission to perform an analysis of the proposed amendments.

Advertisers Withdraw From Hungarian Newspaper Over Anti-Roma Statements

Five companies have said they will no longer place advertising in a Hungarian newspaper that published extreme anti-Roma statements.

"The programme is you" – An account from a mental health service user

The person interviewed in the film has dual diagnosis, which means history both in substance abuse and psychosis. He talks about his experiences with forced hospitalization, which not helped him in recovery, but on the contrary, they contributed to the worsening of his condition.

The Drug War Undermines Security and Development - COUNT THE COSTS SERIES

Please watch and share the latest of our Count the Costs campaign movie serials!