Today, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg handed down a judgment in which it holds that the Hungarian state has violated the “right to respect for private life” guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Eötvös Károly Institute, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee focus on the elements of the system of checks and balances which were eliminated or significantly weakened by the decisions of the Government. Unconstitutional legislative changes, adopted since September, are also addressed.

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HCLU's film outlines Switzerland's successful drug policy

The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Transparency International Hungary, K-Monitor, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the Eötvös Károly Institute turned to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe to obtain its position regarding the amendment of the Constitution which would rectrict the Constitutional Court’s power.

The Constitutional Court stroke down the law on 98% extra tax in its resolution of October 26. The body declared the law unconstitutional on its face, among other reasons, due to the violation of the prohibition of ex post facto legislation.

János Lázár, the leader of the governing party’s fraction, as a reaction in a couple of hours after the Court decision, presented motions as MP to the parliament, which on one hand would revoke the competency of the Constitutional Court in the above issue, on the other hand would guarantee that the constitutional objection would be resolved and the law on 98% extra tax could pass.

Orosz Béla was fined 50 thousand forints for a minor offence. In a letter sent on August 8th, he informed the police that because of his poverty, he cannot pay the fine, but would like to work off his debts through community service. He did not receive a response from the police. Two months later, the courts informed him that they will hold a hearing regarding the conversion of his fine into a prison sentence. This procedure is illegal; the judicial authorities disregarded the laws relating to offences.

József was fined for 30.000 forints for a minor offence. He did not pay, because he had nothing to pay with. 3-4 days later, a policaman came, and told him that if he does not pay the fine, he has to go to prison. József then called to his neighbor, to tell him his horse was for sale. The policeman told him he shouldn’t sell the horse to the neighbor, and brought over his own friend, who was there in 10 minutes and took the horse worth 100 thousand for 30.500.

While childbirth at home is accepted and legally regulated in most developed countries – In Hungary, the entire obstetrician-gynecologist profession is against childbirth outside of the institutional maternity ward. Why is this?

The draft Bill on Social Participation will repeal the now operative law on lobbying. This proposed measure would lead to an increase in oppurtunities for corruption by curtailing the transparency of public decision-making.

The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, within the context of its Roma Program, is providing legal assistance to a woman and her child, who were manhandled by the police and have issued a formal complaint, as well as the man who rushed to their assistance. The Miskolc Detective District Attorney has ordered an investigation on the suspicion of violent misuse of authority.

It is a common occurrence in Borsod county in Hungary, that where the Gypsy settlements begin, paved roads end. There is no running water or sewage system, and the local government does not provide waste removal services.Such areas are treated as if they were not public places, as though the communal and civil service obligations of the local governments stopped at the borders of the Gypsy settlements.

This movie is about a global network that aims to challenge the dogma that drug users are worthless