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.
On the HCLU's initiation, more than 70 public figures and activists have condemned in a collective statement the outlets of doubt over Zsanett E.'s moral integrity and have voiced their solidarity to the victimized young woman. The signees point out, that even today rape victims are successively made responsible for or even blamed for the crime by their environment. The headlines and press releases aimed at discrediting Zsanett E. may strengthen the feeling in sexually assaulted women, that speaking out against their attackers will only lead to more humiliation and indignity.
On May 13th, 2007 five demonstrations, national legalization rallies organized by the Hemp Seed Association were held in Hungary as part of the International Million Marijuana March event-series.
The HCLU deeply outraged over the first comments the Budapest Police Headquarters (BPH) have made in the case of the five metropolitan police officers who have sexually assaulted a young woman. The spokesman and other authorities of the BPH have, in their statement disputed the credibility of the young woman and have actually threatened the victim with possible legal action against her.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC) and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) has welcomed the proposed bill on amendments of the Act on Police which, if accepted could establish the Independent Police Complaint Body (Body). If formed, the Body could play an important role in the strengthening of civic control of the police, but human rights organizations warn: it is absolutely necessary that the Body consists of such persons whom, due to their expertise and independence from law enforcement organizations guarantee the effective functioning of the complaint-mechanism.
In the press conference following the government’s cabinet meeting on March 21st, 2007, Zoltán J. Gál State Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office has informed the public that: „the Prime Minister has appointed three legal experts to prepare the amendment of the Act on Right to Assembly. The task of the experts was to examine whether the draft ensures fundamental human rights and to make sure that it complies with international human rights treaties.” The government, relying on the draft prepared by the legal experts and the findings of the Gönczöl-committee has begun the preparation of the amendment on the Act on Right to Assembly.
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) was honored with the award for it’s innovative and creative social program.