Even banned, HCLU will be braver than the now fearful authorities

Every public speech, protest, and demonstration has a political message that allows us to express our opinions to the entire country. This means that we can influence public life not only every four years during elections, but every day, showing and shaping the kind of country we want to live in. At HCLU, we have been working since the beginning to ensure that those who want to express their opinions, who stand up for themselves and others, cannot be silenced. Budapest Pride has always been a symbol of the demand for equality, and only those who do not respect democracy can seriously consider banning the parade!

Free and fair elections are the lifeblood of democracy—but in Hungary, many obstacles prevent people from fully exercising their voting rights. The Elections Rights Programme of HCLU works to ensure that every eligible citizen knows their rights and can participate without unnecessary obstacles. We monitor registration practices, challenge unlawful restrictions on voting, and help non-Hungarian residents, refugees, and long-term foreigners understand their rights in local and European elections. In the run-up to elections we provide legal awareness workshops in rural and urban areas alike, publish plain-language materials about voter registration, anti-fraud measures, and voting abroad, and operate hotlines during election days. We also engage in strategic litigation: where state bodies or courts refuse to examine the merits of claims about election rights—often citing national security or procedural grounds—we press for judicial scrutiny and accountability.

The rapid spread of face recognition technologies poses a serious threat to privacy, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful assembly. In Hungary, authorities have authorized the use of face recognition even in cases of minor offences, including participating in banned public demonstrations. Such practices risk normalizing constant surveillance in public spaces and create a chilling effect on civic participation. Oversight of these measures is weak: rather than being reviewed by independent bodies, authorizations are often left to political decision-makers, while legal frameworks fail to provide transparency, effective remedies, or safeguards against abuse. HCLU raises awareness of the dangers of face recognition and challenges its unlawful use in order to protect individual rights and preserve an open democratic public sphere.

Uncontrolled state surveillance undermines democracy by eroding trust and silencing dissent. The Pegasus spyware scandal revealed that the phones of journalists, lawyers, and activists were allegedly hacked without real national security justification. Decisions to authorize such intrusive surveillance are frequently made by the Justice Minister rather than an independent authority, with minimal judicial review. Legal safeguards remain inadequate, leaving victims without transparency, remedies, or proportional protections against state overreach. HCLU has launched domestic and international legal actions on behalf of clients surveilled with Pegasus, demanding both reparations and systemic reforms. Through these cases, HCLU works to establish clear democratic limits on surveillance—defining who may order it, under what conditions, and subject to what independent procedures and oversight.

Civic space in Hungary is under increasing pressure: NGOs, activists, independent media, and protest movements face legal, financial, and administrative hurdles. These include stigmatization in public discourse, burdensome regulatory frameworks, limited funding options, and laws that limit public assembly or criminalize protest. HCLU works both to defend individual activists legally and to challenge systemic restrictions. We also track how institutions like the State Audit Office or the Sovereignty Protection Office are being used to intimidate opposition parties or civil society organisations—through opaque procedures, fines, or sanctions—without possibilities for legal remedy. By reporting these cases and engaging in strategic litigation, setting precedents, and raising public awareness, HCLU aims to preserve and expand the space for participation, dissent, and free association.

The freedom of speech and the free press is essential to a well-functioning democratic society. The right to express one’s views freely in private or public - even if those views are shocking or offensive - is the basis of an open and democratic society. We believe that the right to freedom of assembly is a critical part of the freedom of expression. The HCLU successfully provided legal representation to activists participating in peaceful civil disobedience campaigns: charges were lifted and its attorneys successfully argued in numerous cases that civil disobedience activities have not harmed but strengthened public interest.

In Hungary, patients have a set of legally protected rights under the Healthcare Act aimed at reducing their vulnerability in the face of the healthcare system. These patient rights make it possible for individuals to have meaningful control over their treatment: to receive clear, accurate information about their medical condition; to select which healthcare professionals or treatments they consent to; or conversely, to refuse certain interventions. When patient rights are violated—due to lack of information, poor treatment, or improper refusal of care—HCLU offers legal advice and representation. Patients can file internal complaints with healthcare providers; there must be investigations, and responses are expected within statutory deadlines. Through documenting systemic problems—such as delays, opaque communication, or unequal access— and strategic litigation HCLU pushes for legal and policy changes so that the rights guaranteed on paper become reality in every clinic, hospital, and emergency department.

Education is not only about imparting knowledge—it is a fundamental right and a gateway to equal opportunity. In Hungary, though laws guarantee the right of every child to attend school, many pupils, families, and teachers face barrier-laden systems which undermine that guarantee. Another area of concern is academic freedom, or the freedom of teaching and learning: what content is allowed, how much discretion teachers have, and how much pressure exists from political or administrative bodies. Schooling must be neutral with respect to ideological or political influence, accessible, and equal for all children. HCLU provides legal aid to students, parents, and teachers whose rights are violated or threatened—whether over admission, classification, discrimination, or school infrastructure—and advocates for systemic changes so that equal opportunity in education is not just a slogan but a lived reality.

Persons with disabilities in Hungary face both explicit and structural obstacles to full participation in education, public life, and political rights. HCLU documents and campaigns on the political rights of people under guardianship, including voting rights, as well as on the rights of disabled students to access appropriate education. For children with special educational needs, there are often issues with the process of diagnosis, with access to supportive resources, or with schools failing to accommodate their needs appropriately. HCLU provides accessible information for parents on how to navigate expert committees, assert their child’s right to suitable schooling, and to challenge decisions that violate legal standards. Disability rights also involve participation in civic and political life. HCLU has explored how legal restrictions—such as guardianship laws or the manner in which elections are administered—may impede the voting rights of persons with intellectual or mental disabilities. Advocating for legal reform and greater inclusion, HCLU emphasises that disability does not justify exclusion.

Discrimination in Hungary occurs across many domains—education, healthcare, employment, housing—and often targets Roma communities, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised groups. HCLU has collected ample evidence that Roma individuals experience discriminatory practices not only in rhetoric but in concrete barriers to service, treatment, and equality of opportunity. Discrimination undermines human dignity and erodes trust in public institutions. HCLU challenges discriminatory laws, policies, and practices: for example, areas where Roma children are segregated in schools; where people are treated differently or denied services due to ethnicity; or where bureaucratic procedures themselves embed unequal treatment. Legal remedies are available: those who believe they’ve suffered discrimination may submit complaints to state bodies, bring legal action, or use public advocacy to change policies. HCLU supports individuals, documents systemic discrimination, and seeks to shift public discourse and legislation so that equality before the law becomes real.