Office of the commissioner for fundamental rights of hungary

On 31 March 2022, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights received in his Office Chief Ombudsman of Turkey Mr. Şeref Malkoç and Ombudsman for the Rights of Women and Children Ms. Celile Özlem Tunçak.

On 28 March 2022, Ombudsman Dr. Ákos Kozma participated in this year’s first Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting organised by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Vienna on the topic of the international co-operation to address violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

In order to provide direct help to the refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights opened a new information point at the BOK Sports Hall (Budapest Olympic Centre) on 29 March 2022. From now on, the staff members of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, which is a National Human Rights Institution accredited by the United Nations, can provide administrative and legal assistance to those turning to them at the humanitarian transit point set up by the Government in Budapest (in addition to Záhony and Beregsurány), while assisting in the humanitarian relief efforts of the capital.

On 24 March 2022, Ombudsman Dr. Ákos Kozma opened the Pécs Regional Office of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. Thus, as of 1 April, complainants will be able to initiate ombudsman’s procedures in person not only in Budapest but also in six major cities outside the capital, which is a unique achievement also in the international practice.

On 23 March 2022, Dr. Ákos Kozma, responsible for performing the tasks of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) operating on the basis of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), and his staff members conducted an on-site inspection at the Veszprém County Remand Prison.

On 24 March 2022, Ombudsman Dr. Ákos Kozma opened the Székesfehérvár Regional Office of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. Thus, as of 1 April 2022, citizens will be able to request in person the Ombudsman’s inquiry not only in Budapest, Szeged, Debrecen and Győr, but also in this major city of Central Transdanubia.