Office of the commissioner for fundamental rights of hungary

The unconditional respect for others’ dignity and all people’s equality must go hand in hand with reaching out to the vulnerable, and showing solidarity, and responsibility for future generations. It is only with a joint effort and through a dialogue that we can successfully tackle epidemics and any other environmental challenges that may hit humanity – this is the message shared by Dr. Ákos Kozma, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, Dr. Elisabeth Sándor-Szalay, Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities and Dr. Gyula Bándi, Deputy Commissioner for the Interests of Future Generations on the occasion of Human Rights Day.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was approved by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, and we have celebrated this day as the Day of Human Rights since 1950. The Declaration has marked a new era in the development of the protection of human rights, and it is a pioneering document in many respects. The rights and principles enshrined therein represent the accomplishments of a human rights centred mentality that enfolded in light of the lessons learned from the historic events of the past. In times better or worse, these rights and principles embody a common ideal and a reference point with which each and every society must align itself. The text of the Declaration proclaims a number of human rights, but it also articulates that the individual’s right to a free and full development goes hand in hand with honouring one’s obligations towards the community.

The pandemic, which has been raging for more than eighteen months now, as well as the personal tragedies and the dire social and economic problems triggered by it have amplified the existing inequalities all over the world, bringing to the surface the lack of long-term thinking, the difficulties of communication, and the general breakdown of trust. The above phenomena leave smaller and bigger communities wondering: how we could enhance mutual attention to one another, authentic communication in our common issues and sustainability, and how inequalities could be more efficiently eliminated.

Ombudsmen across the world protect fundamental rights; and they strive to provide information to those turning to them and offer legal remedy against the violations of fundamental rights through their procedures, with the instruments at their disposal. Therefore, everyone has the right to apply to the Ombudsman and to complain freely, without hindrance and free of charge. The Hungarian Ombudsman institution, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights and his Deputies assist complainants in all matters within their competence, and as such, they act as the guardians and advocates of the rights of certain vulnerable groups, children, persons with disabilities, the ill, the elderly, the socially disadvantaged, national minorities, and future generations, keeping the public power in check on the basis of the Constitution at all times. This is especially true in such cases where it is not an individual impropriety that calls to be settled and solved, but a global change of mentality, a different, human rights based perspective is required in order to make progress.

Dr. Ákos Kozma, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, Dr. Elisabeth Sándor-Szalay, Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities, and Dr. Gyula Bándi, Deputy Commissioner for the Interests of Future Generations call attention to the fact that in addition to urging us to defend the rights included therein, the Declaration also exhorts us to seek genuine solutions to challenges with a joint effort at all times, but especially in tense situations, and to do that within the framework of human rights and constitutionality and on the basis of respect for human dignity. As the Ombudsmen underline, our present is our future: it is now that we have to look out for one another in order to protect our future.