Office of the commissioner for fundamental rights of hungary

Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the promulgation of the European Landscape Convention, the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights and the Office of the Minister of State for the Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture jointly organized a workshop on the Convention’s implementation. On this occasion, Ombudsman for Future Generations Gyula Bándi opened the exhibition “For the Preservation of Our Landscape Heritage”, displaying the best Hungarian practices of community landscape use adapted to the local conditions. The exhibition is open to the general public until November 10.

Celebrating the Day of German Unity on October 3, we commemorate not only the 1990 reunification of a European nation divided by the cold war and power politics, cut in two by a wall, but also the positive role that the German people played in the years following World War II, contributing to the rebirth of the European idea, the strengthening and uniting of the continent. Konrad Adenauer, Helmut Schmidt, and Helmut Kohl will all go down both in German and European history as major political actors of the 20th Century.

At the initiative of the Council of Europe, on September 26 each year we celebrate the European Day of Languages. As the deputy commissioner for the rights of national minorities in Hungary, I find this day as one of special importance, as it focuses on the linguistic diversity of our continent.

As the Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities in Hungary, I find it very important to commemorate those holidays which are of key significance to the national communities living in Hungary with regard to strengthening their ties to their mother countries and preserving their identities. Today, we would also like to remember and remind you of such an important event.

September 15 was declared the International Day of Democracy by the UN General Assembly with a unanimous decision in November 2007. The fulfillment of the process of democratization and the unconditional respect for human rights should be the unquestioned and common values of all the UN member states. In Hungary, the National Assembly declared September 15 the International Day of Democracy in 2008.

September 15 was declared the International Day of Democracy by the UN General Assembly with a unanimous decision in November 2007. The fulfillment of the process of democratization and the unconditional respect for human rights should be the unquestioned and common values of all the UN member states. In Hungary, the National Assembly declared September 15 the International Day of Democracy in 2008.

In the opinion of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, the state does not completely fulfill its obligations, as the cases of deaths in residential care homes are not automatically followed by objective, professional inquiries, independent from the age of the deceased person and the maintainer of the institution. In his report, Ombudsman László Székely requested the Minister of Human Capacities to act as soon as possible.

The requirement that kindergarten pupils with special educational needs and disabilities should be educated on an inclusive basis, i.e. in harmony with their special needs, is not fulfilled in the Hungarian system of public education, the regulations set out in the Public Education Act and those specified in the National Disability Program are not coherent, and the human resources are also missing. Ombudsman László Székely requested the responsible ministry to act as soon as possible, in addition to his having established the above fact and having made his recommendations for solving the improper situations explained in the individual complaints.

The Commissioner for Fundamental Rights has been functioning as National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) since January 1, 2015. The NPM’s task is to regularly examine the treatment of the detainees held in institutions falling under the effect of the OPCAT, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. In addition to uncovering possible anomalies, the ultimate objective of the NPM is to persuade the authorities and institutions concerned to improve the system of functioning safeguards to prevent all forms of ill-treatment.

The Commissioner for Fundamental Rights thinks that the requirement that blind and partially sighted entrepreneurs and employees may only meet their obligation to issue their receipts by using online cash registers causes an impropriety related to fundamental rights, and it also breaches the international obligations set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The situation is that this equipment is not technically accessible to them at the moment. In his recommendation, Ombudsman László Székely requested that the Minister for National Economy act in this matter as soon as possible.

According to the conclusions of the investigation conducted by the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, there is an urgent need to replace institutional capacities in the Special Home in Göd, where undignified conditions have been prevailing for years. These conditions have not resulted from the recent change in management, they originate from the preceding period, has concluded Ombudsman László Székely who, in order to facilitate the earliest possible solution of the shortcomings in staffing and resources, has also made several recommendations.