Australia in Switzerland
Bern and Geneva
Switzerland, Liechtenstein

Statement205

Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 11th Session

Universal Periodic Review of Hungary

Statement by Australia


11 May 2011

Australia welcomes the delegation from Hungary and appreciates its engagement in the Universal Periodic Review process.

We welcome Hungary’s efforts to ensure that the promotion and protection of human rights is a core component of its new Constitution. We also welcome recent human rights initiatives, including the establishment of the International Genocide Prevention Centre during the annual Budapest Human Rights Forum in October 2010.

We encourage Hungary to establish a national human rights institution which accords in full with the Paris Principles.

We note that Hungary has enacted a new media law. We encourage the Government to ensure full conformity of this law with its international human rights obligations, including independence and impartiality as it relates to freedom of expression and opinion.

We note Hungary’s efforts to combat discrimination and integrate the Romani people into society, but are concerned that the Romani have been subject to racially motivated violence and still face discrimination in areas such as employment, education and housing. We encourage Hungary to continue to promote the inclusion the Romani people.

Australia recommends Hungary:


1. Ensure that legislation introduced giving effect to the new Constitution complies with Hungary’s international human rights obligations;


2. Establish a national human rights institution that is fully compliant with the Paris Principles; and


3. Intensify measures to tackle extremism and discrimination against religious and ethnic minority groups, including the Romani people
.