A delegation of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) visited Hungary from 15 to 19 November 2021 as the first step in the preparation of a monitoring report. Due to exceptional circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the visit was preceded by online meetings in November 2020.
The delegation held meetings with representatives of the government, local authorities, the equality body and civil society, as well as representatives of other international organisations, in Budapest and Pécs. It also carried out a field visit to Gandhi High School in Pécs and an after-school learning and community centre (tanoda) in Gilvánfa (a village mostly populated by Roma). During these meetings and the field visit, ECRI’s delegation gathered information on effective equality and access to rights; hate speech and hate-motivated violence; as well as integration and inclusion.
Following this visit, ECRI will adopt a report in 2022 in which it will make a new set of recommendations on measures to be taken by the authorities to prevent and combat racism and intolerance in the country. The implementation of two priority recommendations will be reviewed in two years’ time as part of ECRI’s interim follow-up procedure.
In its 2015 report, ECRI highlighted, among other issues, attempts by local authorities to force Roma out of social housing without ensuring suitable alternatives. It also recommended that the authorities use open reception facilities to accommodate asylum seekers, in particular families with children.
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