HunÂgaÂriÂan HelÂsinÂki ComÂmitÂtee receiÂves the Human Rights Award of the PRO ASYL FounÂdaÂtiÂon 2018
Today, the PRO ASYL FounÂdaÂtiÂon honoÂred the work of the HunÂgaÂriÂan HelÂsinÂki ComÂmitÂtee (HHC), awarÂding its co-chairs MárÂta ParÂdaÂvi and András Kádár the Human Rights Award 2018. The ceremÂoÂny with more than 180 guests took place at the »Haus am Dom« in FrankÂfurt. The HHC is one of the most important civil rights orgaÂnizaÂtiÂons in HunÂgaÂry advoÂcaÂting human and refuÂgees’ rights and upholÂding the rule of law.
The Human Rights Award of the PRO ASYL founÂdaÂtiÂon is of greÂat importance in the wake of the upcoÂming debaÂte in the EuroÂpean ParÂliaÂment about the impleÂmenÂtaÂtiÂon of the core values of the EuroÂpean UniÂon. On the 11th and 12th of SepÂtemÂber, MemÂbers of the EP will debaÂte on wheÂther to take action and vote yes to prompt EU action against HunÂgaÂry accorÂding to the ArticÂle 7 of the EuroÂpean Treaties.
In her accepÂtance speech, MárÂta ParÂdaÂvi addresÂsed the MemÂbers of the EuroÂpean ParÂliaÂment: »This is one of the last chanÂces for the EuroÂpean UniÂon to stand up for its core values. In HunÂgaÂry, we find ourÂselÂves in a situaÂtiÂon in which the rule of law ends and arbiÂtraÂry autoÂcraÂcy begÂins. PleaÂse vote “yes” on SepÂtemÂber 12th.«
»The HunÂgaÂriÂan governÂment poliÂtiÂciÂzes the work of the ConÂstiÂtuÂtioÂnal Court, curtails its powers and increÂasingÂly underÂmiÂnes the indeÂpenÂdence of the judiÂciaÂry and the press. TighÂtenÂed laws have been creaÂted to restÂrict the space for civil socieÂty actiÂvism and attack the social spiÂrit«,the ComÂmisÂsioÂner for Human Rights PoliÂcy and HumaÂniÂtaÂriÂan Aid, Dr. BärÂber KofÂler staÂted. »StanÂding up for the rights of refuÂgees and the proÂtecÂtion of the rule of law in such a fraught atmoÂspheÂre is someÂthing which deserÂves our utmost respect«, said Kofler.
DespiÂte the increÂasing threÂat and the attempts of the HunÂgaÂriÂan governÂment to criÂmiÂnaÂliÂze orgaÂniÂsaÂtiÂons for civil rights, the HHC stands strong. For insÂtance, as a result of the interÂvenÂtiÂon of the HHC, all asylÂum seeÂkers in the tranÂsit zones are receiÂving food again. The HHC had to request inteÂrim meaÂsuÂres from the EuroÂpean Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on a case-by-case basis for two weeks to ensuÂre that autÂhoÂriÂties proÂviÂde food to detaiÂned asylÂum seeÂkers whoÂse claims were found inadÂmisÂsiÂble. In all cases the ECtHR granÂted the requests and ordeÂred the HunÂgaÂriÂan governÂment to proÂviÂde food to the eight affecÂted persons.
The chair of PRO ASYL, AndeÂas Lipsch, calÂled the EuroÂpean ParÂliaÂment to take action against the Orban: »Any cozyÂing up will threaÂten the entiÂre EuroÂpean comÂmuÂniÂty and the values it stands for. A memÂber stat that vioÂlaÂtes the core of EuroÂpean human rights, declaÂres civil protÂagoÂnists enemies and intiÂmiÂdaÂtes the oppoÂsiÂtiÂon, must be sancÂtionÂed with the loss of its right to vote.«
With the annuÂal Human Rights Award, the PRO ASYL FounÂdaÂtiÂon encouÂraÂges and honors public figuÂres who have been proÂmiÂnent in defenÂding human rights and proÂtecÂting refugees.
PicÂtures of the ceremony:
BilÂder der Veranstaltung:
MárÂta ParÂdaÂvi und András Kádár bei der Preisverleihung.
PRO ASYL-VorÂsitÂzenÂder AndreÂas Lipsch bei der Preisverleihung.