Human rights
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein condemned the decision by the Hungarian Parliament to pass legislation that criminalizes individuals and groups deemed to be supporting asylum-seekers, refugees and undocumented migrants. It “is an attack on fundamental human rights and freedoms in Hungary”, Mr Al Hussein said, speaking of “constant stoking of hatred” by the Hungarian Government and of “shameful” political developments, “blatantly xenophobic” and contrary to “European and international human rights standards and values”. Although the Hungarian State is responsible for its own borders, “this legislation threatens the safety and human rights of migrants and refugees, as well as the vital work of NGOs and human rights defenders providing protection and assistance to them”. Under the new legislation, which may come into force as early as 1 July, the authorities will be able to “arrest, charge and immediately remove from Hungary’s border area with non-Schengen countries” anyone who is “suspected of helping a person to make an asylum claim or obtain a residence permit, or of providing other legal or humanitarian assistance”, a statement from the UN explains. Hungary also announced the introduction of a 25% tax on funding for NGOs which “support immigration”. “The ability of civil society organisations to work and function freely and independently, including having access to funding”, the statement reads, “is an integral part of the rights to freedom of association, opinion and expression, set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Hungary is a State party”.
