HRW criticizes Hungarian constitutional changes

The latest annual report published by Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights in the German capital, Berlin this Wednesday, criticizes 2013 amendments to the Hungarian Basic Law.

The Hungarian news agency MTI reviews the document by saying that 2013 saw continued threats to the rule of law as the Hungarian government initiated some legislative amendments, which also resulted in weakening protection of human rights. Amendments made to the Basic Law in March 2013 further undermined the independence of the judiciary system and deprived the Constitutional Court of significant scopes of authority.

According to the HRW report, the government carried out ‘cosmetic changes’ in the Basic Law in September, changes that did not put an end to discrimination against religious groups, and only partially treated the problem of restrictions on the publication of political advertisements.

The report adds, among other things, that the Roma continue to be exposed to discrimination and harassment, and anti-Semitism also remains a problem.