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.
A few days ago, the HCLU was notified about winning an award at the 5th Roma Life –Central European Documentary Festival from the Foundation for Democracy and Political Culture for our film, Gyöngyöspata 2011. However, we declined to accept the award.
In order to find out how the HCLU came to this decision, please read the below letter written to János Simon, Festival Director.
“The water will stink” – says a Roma child in Gyöngyöspata, of one of the reasons why teachers do not allow them to participate in swimming training at school. This is just one example of discrimination faced by Roma children in the local elementary school. Still, HírTV, one of Hungary’s television news channels, is producing programs - including one made to seem as an investigative report - which aim to present the lack of segregation at the school. HírTV even went as far as to deem a journalist of the British paper The Guardian and the HCLU non-credible and liars. In its reaction to the HCLU’s film and article, HírTV is threatening the HCLU with a copyright lawsuit, however the letter not once refers to the contents and statements of our film contradicting their previous programs, which we find to be quite significant.
Hungarian Roma and non-Roma non-governmental organisations co-operated in the elaboration of a document containing expert observations on the Hungarian National Social Inclusion Strategy and its Action Plan, to share with European and national actors, who participate in the technical evaluation and further development of the Strategy.
Watch and share our movie to raise awareness on the human rights consequences of the global war on drugs! Read more >>
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and other Hungarian NGOs met the rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission, and submitted their concerns related to the legislative steps of the Hungarian Government taken in the last one and a half year, with special regard to the so-called cardinal laws.
Ágnes Geréb, midwife who stood before the judge for engaging in professional misconduct resulting in death and in permanent disability received a 2-year prison sentence. She is also banned from practicing her profession for 10 years.