Roma Rights Advocacy

They want to imprison him illegally

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.

The horse-dealing policeman

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.

If there’s money, the baby will be born – if there’s no money, the baby won’t be born

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?

Police Brutality Investigated

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.

Garbage trucks do not enter Gypsy settlement

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.

'I would like to send Viktor Orbán a message'

Wife and husband cannot find employment. It is very difficult to send three children to school on only a family allowance and welfare. They are moving, because they feel they have no opportunities in Borsod (county in Hungary.)

Get a penalty for doing your job!

Budai Gyula is a public employee in Ózd (town in Hungary). His job is to keep the recycling bins in order. He received a penalty for 10.000 HUF for scavenging, while he was doing his job. He acted correctly by not acknowledging his supposed offence by his signature. If he had done so, he could not argue against the decision. Do not sign anything if you have not committed what you’re being charged for!

'We don't want welfare, but jobs'

There is no bad work, the important thing is to have a job. This is what a young man from Hétes settlement talks about, in our video.

They just watched as the houses collapsed

Out of the non-Roma people, only the mayor helped the Gypsies living in flooded houses in Sáta settlement, Borsod county, Hungary, in the defensive measures against the flood. All the other deputies stood back, and some even hindered their efforts.

Gypsies did not have access to the donations collected to benefit flood victims

The local branch of the ’Jobbik’ party in Monor (a town in Hungary), has an ongoing collection for the benefit of flood victims. The flood has damaged 17 houses in the township, of which 5 are inhabited by Gypsies.

A ’Jobbik’ party activist, in charge of distributing donations, has not given any aid to the Gypsy victims- clearly stating it was due to their lineage. She had apportioned parts of the donations for non-Gypsy born people who were not affected by the flood, but were considered ’Jobbik’ voters. Online descriptions of the donations emphasize that the contents will only benefit ’Hungarians.’

'There is nothing to say to this'

April 18, 2010, Sátoraljaújhely, Hungary. We visited the quarters of the people evacuated due to the flood. Many of them complained that “Hungarians” didn’t help the Romas during the defense against the flood. The sand ordered by the local government also arrived late. This is what this short video addresses.

The fish was jumping by the fence

In Sátoraljaújhely, during the May 2010 floods, the local government transported sand to the Roma district only when the river began receding. Until then, they did not receive any aid.