Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights
National Preventive Mechanism

 

How to contact the National Preventive Mechanism?

Under Article 3 of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), the tasks of the National Preventive Mechanism are carried out by the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. Anyone may make a complaint to the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights if, to their judgment, the ban on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is not duly observed in any domestic place of detention.

Complaints addressed to the National Preventive Mechanism may be submitted personally to the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights (1074 Budapest, Rákóczi út 70-72., Address of the Client Service Office: 1054 Budapest, Vértanúk tere 1. phone: +36 (1) 475‑7100). Written complaints shall be forwarded to the postal address of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights (AJBH OPCAT NeMM 1387 Budapest PO Box 40) or electronically (opcat.npm@ajbh.hu; opcat.nemm@ajbh.hu). You are kindly requested to include data related to the name or, at least, the profile and location of the institution in question. The National Preventive Mechanism may proceed even on the basis of anonymous submissions. The Commissioner for Fundamental Rights shall inform the complainants of the registration of their complaints using the address provided by them.

In order to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the National Preventive Mechanism shall conduct regular ex officio inspections in places of detention; therefore, its activities are not limited to examining complaints. If the submissions received do not get examined in the course of the National Preventive Mechanism's inspections, they shall be forwarded to other departments of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights handling complaints.

From the aspects of the National Preventive Mechanism's activities, places of detention include, in addition to places of penitentiary and police detention, any and all institutions maintained by the state, churches, local governments, foundations or other market actors which, by order of any judicial, administrative or other authority, detainees are not permitted to leave at will.

The National Prevention Mechanism may disclose or publish the identity and personal data of persons turning to him only with the explicit consent of those concerned. Under the law, people sharing information with the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights or with his colleagues authorized to act on behalf of the National Preventive Mechanism may not be prejudiced in any way.