(English) December 19, 2012
Two rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations called on the Hungarian government this week to respect the ruling of the country’s Constitutional Court and refrain from criminalising homelessness.
In November the Constitutional Court found as unconstitutional the law adopted last year that set fines or prison sentences on those sleeping rough in public areas for the second time in six months. The UN Special Rapporteurs on extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda, and on adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik, stressed that Hungary is required to align its national legislation with its international human rights obligations.
“We warned about the discriminatory impact of the legislation on those living in poverty and social exclusion,” said Sepúlveda, recalling that in February 2012 both she and Rolnik had cautioned about the detrimental effects of the legislation on the rights of homeless people in Hungary.
Rolnik said: “We also expressed our concern with the fact that the Hungarian government chose to conduct costly policing operations to penalise homelessness, instead of seeking durable and adequate housing solutions for the poor, including those affected by the recent financial crisis. The Hungarian government admits that there are currently not enough shelters in the capital to service the existing homeless community. It is therefore clear that homelessness in Hungary is not a choice but a harsh reality.”
Click here to read the statement.
Source: The Budapest Times
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