Europa Oriental e Ásia Central

Hungary accused of persecution of the poor

Published in Wednesday March 20th, 2013 In Social movement news

In Autumn 2010, the Hungarian Law on Constructions was amended to allow municipalities to ban homeless people from public spaces. The Hungarian Parliament imposed a $700 fine or jail upon those who repeatedly broke municipal laws regarding “residential habitation in public spaces.” Although this law was ruled unconstitutional by the Hungarian Constitutional Court, the Hungarian Prime Minister has announced that the government intends to prohibit street homelessness in the country’s constitution. This has attracted significant international attention and criticism, and highlights key issues affecting people affected by poverty and homelessness.

Press briefing notes: Hungary, Thailand/Rohingyas and Kenya

Published in Friday March 15th, 2013 In In the media

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert Colville Location: Geneva Date: 15 March 2013 1) Hungary We are concerned about the swift adoption of the most recent amendment to the Fundamental Law (Constitution) by the Hungarian Parliament on 11 March 2013. The amendment was passed without proper public discussion on issues that […]

UN human rights office voices concern over changes to Hungarian constitution

Published in Friday March 15th, 2013 In In the media

The United Nations today expressed concern over Hungary’s adoption of an amendment to the constitution that threatens the independence of its judiciary, and stressed this could have a profound effect on the human rights of its citizens.
According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the amendment to the Fundamental Law (constitution) was adopted by the Hungarian Parliament on Monday without proper public discussion on issues that may affect the population’s human rights.

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Statement Against the Continued Persecution and Criminalisation of Homeless People in Hungary

Published in Tuesday March 5th, 2013 In Social movement news

FEANTSA calls on the Hungarian government to withdraw its proposed amendment to the Hungarian Constitution that will make it possible to fine, arrest and imprison people who are sleeping rough because they have no other options in a vote on 4 March 2013.

Constitutional Revenge

Published in Tuesday March 5th, 2013 In Opinion

The Hungarian government is now seeking revenge for the various defeats it has suffered by introducing into the Parliament a 15-page constitutional amendment that reverses its losses. The mega-amendment is a toxic waste dump of bad constitutional ideas, many of which were introduced before and nullified by the Constitutional Court or changed at the insistence of European bodies. The new constitutional amendment (again) kills off the independence of the judiciary, brings universities under (even more) governmental control, opens the door to political prosecutions, criminalizes homelessness, makes the recognition of religious groups dependent on their cooperation with the government and weakens human rights guarantees across the board. Moreover, the constitution will now buffer the government from further financial sanctions by permitting it to take all fines for noncompliance with the constitution or with European law and pass them on to the Hungarian population as special taxes, not payable by the normal state budget.

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We are not asking for free housing

Published in Monday February 25th, 2013

On the 19th January 2013, homeless activists and their allies squatted an empty building in the 7th district of Budapest. The activists were arrested and now face misdemeanor charges because of disobeying police instructions.

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Justice on the Streets – participatory action research about discrimination against homeless people

Published in Monday February 25th, 2013

In 2011, The City is for All launched a participatory action research project about discrimination experienced by homeless people in Budapest. The study has been a groundbreaking effort in Hungary to involve people who are directly affected by harassment, exclusion and discrimination in scientific research. Click here to read the report.

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Czech Republic Roma Community Stand Firm Against Eviction

Published in Tuesday January 15th, 2013 In In the media

In August 2012, the Ostrava City Hall issued a 24-hour eviction order to the owner of the 11 buildings at Přednádraží, asking him to evict all of the residents, giving as a reason an unsafe condition of the buildings, primarily due to broken sewage lines. Three lawsuits have been filed between the various departments of the Ostrava City Hall to establish responsibility for fixing the sewage lines, but in the meantime, the residents have to bear the consequences of this neglect (earlier GV coverage of the case – here [1]and here [2]
Approximately 100 families, supported by local activists, refused to move out. Many simply did not have anywhere else to go; some have been living there for over 30 years. Now, five months later, twelve families still remain at Přednádraží, including six children. Everyone, except for one couple, moved to Building #8, which has become the focus of community efforts.

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UNHCR attacks on Hungarian homeless law

Published in Friday December 21st, 2012 In In the media

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.

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The Roma who were evicted to live by a landfill site in Romania

Published in Tuesday December 18th, 2012 In Social movement news

Two years ago the local authorities of Cluj-Napoca forcibly evicted around 300 people – mostly Roma – from Coastei Street in the centre of the Romanian city. Since then, most of them have been living close to the landfill and a chemical waste dump in an area on the outskirts known as Pata Rât, where they were moved by the municipality. Soon after their eviction, Romani people started a long struggle for justice.

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