The inaugural sitting has taken place of the Human Rights Roundtable, which will have a major role in the preparation of Hungary’s Human Rights Report. The Roundtable has been set up the Human Rights Working Group, which operates as an advisory body to the Government. Forty-five civil society organisations active in the field of human rights – several of them recognised internationally – are taking part in the Roundtable’s work. Next year thematic meetings will focus on twelve major areas.
This is an unprecedented event in Hungary, as under previous governments there has been no formal framework giving the civil sphere an opportunity to improve the human rights situation through meaningful tasks based on joint effort. The Human Rights roundtable is one of a number of new forums in the process of public consultation, in which the involvement of the civil sphere can be expected to result in productive work.
The mission of the body is to provide dialogue between civil society and specialist organisations and representatives of the Government in such important areas as the rights of women, protection of children, Roma affairs, international affairs, the rights of the elderly and those living with disabilities, the situation of the homeless, refugee affairs and migration, protection of the freedom of expression and economic, social and cultural rights. From 2013 its task will be to use its thematic meetings to put forward proposals to the Human Rights Working Group, thus helping to give direction to the creation of legislation.
The members of the Human Rights Roundtable were selected through an applications procedure, with applications being submitted to the Secretariat of the Working Group by a deadline of 30 October, 2012. Forty-five organisations have been invited to take part in the Roundtable’s work, but it will also receive recommendations from a further two specialist organisations.
Participating organisations include Amnesty International Hungary, the Association of Hungarians from Transylvania, the Gypsy Arts and Sciences Association, the Civil Cohesion Foundation for the Public Good, the Háttér Support Society for LGBT People in Hungary, Lungo Drom National Roma/ Gypsy Advocacy and Civil Alliance, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union.
(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)