Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Aug 27

Hungary's Law-Making Process: Executive Dominance and Eroded Oversight
⚠️ Ineffective Public Consultations
⚠️ Parliamentary Process Instrumentalisation
⚠️ Perpetual Emergency Powers
⚠️ Opposition Marginalisation and Sanctions

📗 Read our new mapping paper: helsinki.hu/en/deficienc...

Deficiencies of the Law-Making Process in Hungary - Hungarian Helsinki Committee

Mapping paper on the public consultation on draft laws, parliamentary law-making, and the perpetuated states of exception

helsinki.hu

1 3 3

Reposted by Hungarian Helsinki Committee

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jul 14

The European Commission just published the 2025 Rule of Law Report.
Join us on Wednesday, 16 July at 14:00-15:00 in this EPC webinar in to discuss what the report’s new edition brings.
With @martapardavi.bsky.social @mariaskora.bsky.social @ericmaurice.bsky.social @danielfreund.bsky.social

European Policy Centre @epc-official.bsky.social · Jul 11

📢 The 2025 Rule of Law Report: Full use of the #EU toolbox?
🗓️ 16 July | 14:00–15:00

As #democratic backsliding persists, is the EU doing enough to defend the #RuleOfLaw?

Join our policy dialogue to discuss findings, tools & next steps.

🔗 epc.eu/events/the-2...

4 8

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jul 14

The European Commission just published the 2025 Rule of Law Report.
Join us on Wednesday, 16 July at 14:00-15:00 in this EPC webinar in to discuss what the report’s new edition brings.
With @martapardavi.bsky.social @mariaskora.bsky.social @ericmaurice.bsky.social @danielfreund.bsky.social

European Policy Centre @epc-official.bsky.social · Jul 11

📢 The 2025 Rule of Law Report: Full use of the #EU toolbox?
🗓️ 16 July | 14:00–15:00

As #democratic backsliding persists, is the EU doing enough to defend the #RuleOfLaw?

Join our policy dialogue to discuss findings, tools & next steps.

🔗 epc.eu/events/the-2...

4 8

Reposted by Hungarian Helsinki Committee

Human Rights House Foundation @humanrightshouse.bsky.social · Jul 14

Four years after the detention of Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic and Uladzimir Labkovich, 40+ INGOs urge Belarus to uphold the rule of law and to immediately and unconditionally release all HRDs arbitrarily detained in Belarus.

humanrightshouse.org/statements/f...

#FreeViasna #FreeBelarus

1 2 2

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 28

Budapest Pride 🏳️‍🌈🇭🇺 the ban backfired! Peaceful, safe, happy and huge!
Organisers estimate a crowd over 200,000 people.

1 16 48

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 28

We hope that Budapest Pride today will be a peaceful and joyous celebrations of human rights. But this morning the legal situation is still quite unclear. We're ready to give legal assistance to participants if they are fined for taking part.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Budapest Pride expected to be a rallying cry against Orbán’s rollback of rights

Record numbers expected at march despite Hungary’s leader saying those attending will face ‘legal consequences’

www.theguardian.com

16 78

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 25

Many thousands of people are expected to participate in Budapest Pride 🏳️‍🌈 this Saturday, 28 June. We need people to be informed and to feel safe in exercising their right to freedom of assembly. So here’s our Q&Q guide: helsinki.hu/en/pride2025/

Q&A - Budapest Pride 2025 - Hungarian Helsinki Committee

The Hungarian Government uses its power arbitrarily to discourage people from attending the Budapest Pride in 2025. According to an amendment adopted by the Parliament, attending Pride will be conside...

helsinki.hu

1 5

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 22

"People wake up in the morning and don’t know which of their fundamental rights are going to be taken away; that’s not a normal way to live." The legal battle for equal rights and freedom of assembly is heating up before Budapest Pride 🏳️‍🌈 on Saturday, 28 June. observer.co.uk/news/interna...

Orbán’s challenger hopes that Pride will come before a st...

Hungary’s opposition leader can’t speak out in favour of the banned Budapest march for fear of losing votes when he tries to break the right’s 15-year gr...

observer.co.uk

6 11

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 20

Hungary in 2025: Far-right groups can hold rallies promoting exclusionary messages, while the Supreme Court (Kúria) has upheld a police ban on a LGBT+ rights demonstration planned by 4 human rights groups. We continue the struggle for freedom of assembly and human rights. helsinki.hu/a-kuria-dont...

A Kúria nem állt a szivárványos tüntetők mellé

A Kúria szerint nem lehet felvonulást tartani a szexuális és nemi kisebbségek jogegyenlősége mellett Magyarországon.

helsinki.hu

7 10

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 13

Vote delayed ≠ threat gone
The proposed law targeting civil society, media, and democracy groups isn't dead—it's just on pause. The political intent to silence watchdogs remains crystal clear. lens.civicus.org/interview/th...

‘Those who promote accountability, democratic values and human rights are branded enemies of the state’

CIVICUS discusses Hungary’s now-postponed foreign agents bill with Márta Pardavi, co-chair of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights organisation that defends human dignity through legal and...

lens.civicus.org

6 8

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 5

Postponing the final vote on the bill is not a retreat but merely a tactical delay. Protests by civic actors, media and businesses helped secure this temporary relief. The next months will be crucial to safeguard freedom of expression, association and assembly. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Hungary postpones vote on law to curb foreign-funded organisations

Orbán’s ruling party delays vote on legislation allowing government to ban organisations with foreign funding

www.theguardian.com

2 19 31

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 4

Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe's @coe.int Commissioner for Human Rights has asked Hungary’s Parliament not to adopt the law that stifles civil society.
It breaches freedom of expression and association, privacy, fair trial rights and the ban on discrimination. www.coe.int/en/web/commi...

Commissioner asks Hungary’s Parliament not to adopt law that stifles civil society - Commissioner for Human Rights - www.coe.int

Strasbourg 04/06/2025

www.coe.int

7 11

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 1

This brings us one step closer to a legal victory that is aimed at ensuring that the Pride march in Budapest will be held peacefully and lawfully on 28 June!

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 1

SEE YOU AT BUDAPEST PRIDE ON 28 JUNE 🏳️‍🌈
After an initial police ban on a demonstration by 5 human rights NGOs and our successful court challenge, Budapest Police today acknowledged a demonstration for LGBTIQ+ rights in Budapest. This means Budapest Pride on 28/6 is ON.

ℹ️ helsinki.hu/siker-szabad...

Siker: szabad a szivárványos menet Budapesten - Magyar Helsinki Bizottság

Továbbra sincs olyan indok, amely jogszerűen megalapozhatná a szivárványos menet megtiltását. Ma délelőtt a rendőrség megerősítette, lehet az LMBTQI jogokért felvonulni Budapest belvárosában, amikor t...

helsinki.hu

2 17 34

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 1

SEE YOU AT BUDAPEST PRIDE ON 28 JUNE 🏳️‍🌈
After an initial police ban on a demonstration by 5 human rights NGOs and our successful court challenge, Budapest Police today acknowledged a demonstration for LGBTIQ+ rights in Budapest. This means Budapest Pride on 28/6 is ON.

ℹ️ helsinki.hu/siker-szabad...

Siker: szabad a szivárványos menet Budapesten - Magyar Helsinki Bizottság

Továbbra sincs olyan indok, amely jogszerűen megalapozhatná a szivárványos menet megtiltását. Ma délelőtt a rendőrség megerősítette, lehet az LMBTQI jogokért felvonulni Budapest belvárosában, amikor t...

helsinki.hu

16 40

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 1

„Návrh vyjmenovává témata, která se stávají tabu. Pokud byste se jimi chtěli zabývat a máte příjmy ze zahraničí, mohli byste riskovat ztrátu přístupu k jakýmkoli příjmům,“ popisuje právnička Márta Pardaviová.
We talked to Czech public radio @irozhlas.cz

www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-svet/...

‚Chtějí nás vyhladovět.‘ Nový maďarský zákon se chystá umlčet občanskou společnost

„Ani s naším rostoucím zaměřením na erozi demokracie jsme nečekali, kde budeme dnes,“ uvádí pro server iROZHLAS.cz maďarská advokátka Márta Pardaviová, spolupředsedkyně Maďarského helsinského výboru.

www.irozhlas.cz

1 1

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Jun 1

“Sometimes it might seem kind of tempting to say: ‘OK, we’re just going to make this compromise, and it might go away,’” András Kádár told @theguardian.com. “But ... we always hit new rock bottoms. It’s very important to fight every inch and bit of this process.” www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...

4 6

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · May 27

Budapest police decided to ban an LGBTQI march on June 1, refuting the claim by Hungary’s EU minister, János Bóka, that “there is no such thing in Hungary as a Pride ban”. 5 NGOs condemn the move as a politically motivated violation of the right to peaceful assembly. helsinki.hu/en/hungary-b...

Hungary: Banning LGBTI march for “resembling Budapest Pride” a deeply disturbing development - Hungarian Helsinki Committee

In a stark display of authoritarian overreach and discriminatory intent, the Budapest police have banned this year’s LGBTQI march scheduled for June 1 - marking the first known use of Hungary’s newly ...

helsinki.hu

9 8

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · May 23

We joined @liberties.eu's open letter to @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu, warning of the severe and existential threat to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law in Hungary and in the EU as a whole. Already 320+ orgs from all over Europe have joined the call on the Commission to act fast.

Liberties.EU @liberties.eu · May 23

Join 320+ orgs to send a strong message to President von der Leyen: we re-opened the letter for CSOs ahead the Council meeting next Tuesday. ⤵️

"This new bill represents a severe and existential threat to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law in Hungary and in the EU as a whole."

Open Letter On The Hungarian Bill Entitles “Transparency Of Public Life"

Open Letter On The Hungarian Bill Entitles “Transparency Of Public Life" (Re-opened for organisational signatures - see details below)

www.liberties.eu

9 18

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · May 22

Read how the mechanics and the impact of the 'Starve and Strangle law', a new bill in the 🇭🇺 parliament, would silence independent voices, civil society and media.
We urge EU institutions and member states, the Council of Europe and the OSCE to act.
Our briefing note ➡️ helsinki.hu/en/operation...

Operation Starve and Strangle: companies, independent media and civil society in a chokehold - Hungarian Helsinki Committee

A new proposal for a law would allow the Hungarian government to blacklist a broad range of for-profit and non-profit entities, severely limiting their ability to operate. Hungarian civil society orga...

helsinki.hu

8 21

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · May 21

If this bill passes, it will not simply marginalise Hungary’s independent voices – it will extinguish them, we told @theguardian.com.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

EU urged to act over Hungary’s plans to ‘effectively outlaw free press’

Media figures speak out as Orbán’s party proposes penalising organisations that receive foreign funding

www.theguardian.com

1 39 88

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · May 20

The Hungarian bill on "transparency in public life" [the Starve and Strangle Law] must not be adopted, say @coe.int PACE monitors. "As proposed, the bill would make it impossible for civil society organisations and independent media outlets to operate, let alone exist." pace.coe.int/en/news/9893...

The Hungarian draft law on ‘transparency in public life’ must not be adopted, say PACE monitors

Eerik-Niiles Kross (Estonia, ALDE) and George Papandreou (Greece, SOC), co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Hungary, have made the follow...

pace.coe.int

6 4

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · May 16

Here is our own, unofficial translation of the Starve & Strangle bill: helsinki.hu/en/wp-conten...

2 12 14

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · May 15

A dark turn in Hungary’s democracy erosion: disguised as a transparency measure to prevent sovereignty threats, the Bill on the Transparency of Public Life aims to starve and strangle civil society, independent media and any legal entity the government decides to target. helsinki.hu/en/operation...

Operation Starve and Strangle: Hungary’s proposed “Transparency” Law threatens core European democratic values and attacks independent civil society and media organisations - Hungarian Helsinki Commit...

A new legislative proposal marks a turning point in Hungary's erosion of democratic norms. Disguised as a transparency measure to prevent sovereignty threats, the Bill on the Transparency of Public Li...

helsinki.hu

19 16

Reposted by Hungarian Helsinki Committee

Center for Reproductive Rights Europe @reprorightseur.bsky.social · Apr 16

Banning #LGBTIQ+ gatherings and denying transgender citizens their right to self-determine is an unprecedented attack on the EU's most fundamental civil freedoms and rights. Equality for all is the bedrock of democracy. We urge @ec.europa.eu to act swiftly in defence of #Hungary's #LGBTQ+ community.

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Apr 14

We described the change as a means of “legislating fear” in the EU country. “These laws represent a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to suppress dissent, weaken human rights protection and consolidate its grip on power." www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Hungary passes constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ gatherings

Amendment also enshrines recognition of only two sexes, providing basis for denying gender identities

www.theguardian.com

4 7

Hungarian Helsinki Committee @hungarianhelsinki.bsky.social · Apr 16

To prevent irreparable harm to the 2025 Budapest Pride March, human rights organisations are urging the European Commission to request interim measures in the lawsuit at the EU Court of Justice regarding the Hungarian anti-LGBTIQ+ propaganda law.

Our joint letter to the Commission: lnkd.in/dXtpN6G8

1 2 11