Roma Rights Advocacy

Discrimination during aid to flood victims

The HCLU has received information from several flooded northeastern settlements of Hungary, that in the Roma-inhabited parts of town, help came too late or not at all. This happened in Sáta as well.

Sajóbábony through the eyes of a Gypsy man

There was a clash in Sajóbábony on November 15, 2009, between Roma people and people wearing the uniform of the disbanded Hungarian Guard. In this video we can learn about the events from the point of view of a local Roma young man.

HCLU and ERRC have contacted the ombudsman regarding evictions

HCLU (Hungarian Civil Liberties Union) and ERRC (European Roma Rights Center) have called into account Máté Szabó, Parliamentary Commissioner of Civil Rights in Hungary, with a corporate submission in order to conduct an investigation, and gain an explanation as to why people living in abject poverty are being evicted from local governments’ tenements- the equivalent of making them homeless. Specialists of HCLU Roma Programme, doing fieldwork in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplém county (Hungary), have received numerous annunciations from Roma families who had been evicted or were on the verge of being evicted by the local governments.

Without Rights

A new documentary film by HCLU on the situation of Romani people in Hungary. Why would a local government pass a law that forces clubs to close at 10 pm, in an area where the only place open at that time happenes to be Romani? How can someone be accused of carrying 700 kg of wood on a bicycle? How can a case be labelled as a false alarm when the whole street witnessed a gun being pointed at a pregnant woman? How can the parents of six children be put in prison for two of their children skipping school? The film deals with such issues.

Intellectuals Against the Hungarian Guard

Upon the initiation of the HCLU, more than 150 intellectuals have signed the declaration against the anti-roma marches of the Hungarian Guard. We believe, that through their fear-evoking, hate-raising and possibly violent actions, the Hungarian Guard have crossed a line. Therefore, the HCLU welcomes the legal actions of the Capitol High Prosecutor’s Office, by which they plan to take steps against this extreme group.