Hungarian authorities have orchestrated a crack-down on human rights groups unprecedented since the end of the communist era. Alongside Russia, Uganda, Ecuador and China, Hungary sticks out as the only member country of the European Union which puts undue pressure on human rights groups. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has repeated a Putin-inspired idea of monitoring foreign-funded civil society organizations, described by state authorities as “agents of foreign powers”. This Policy Paper argues that Hungary should reconsider its policies, which are hurting not only the country’s international image, but also have negative consequences at home.
Hungary must provide space for civil society
The NHC present our first policy paper of 2016, and Hungary is in focus.