In April 2020, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) published a research report examining the relationship between independent media and public authorities during the coronavirus pandemic in Hungary.

Hungary’s laws, policies and practices which often result in persons with disabilities being placed under guardianship, and in many cases being institutionalised, are grave and systematic violations of their rights, UN experts have found after an extensive inquiry.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health emergency that requires a coordinated and large-scale response by governments worldwide. However, States’ efforts to contain the virus must not be used as a cover to usher in a new era of greatly expanded systems of invasive digital surveillance.

With the progress of the epidemic, it became crucial to change the healthcare protocol, which determines for example who needs to be tested for the coronavirus. Here’s a brief look at how to comply with the new regulations.

Assessment of the proposed law to extend the state of emergency and its constitutional preconditions

A carte blanche mandate for the Hungarian government with no sunset clause is not the panacea to the emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus in Hungary. We need strong rule of law safeguards and proportional and necessary emergency measures, not unlimited government rule by decree that can last beyond the actual epidemic crisis.

Our answers to the most important questions regarding the current epidemiological situation in Hungary can be found here.