Office of the commissioner for fundamental rights of hungary

Dr. Ákos Kozma, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary, held a professional roundtable discussion with national representative organisations of different disability groups at the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary in the context of the activities of the Independent Mechanism of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the establishment and operation of the Disability Advisory Committee.

Since 1 January 2023, the Ombudsman, who sworn to defend human rights, independent national human rights institution has been performing the tasks of the Independent Mechanism of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In addition to its previous activities in this field, the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights now directly assists, protects and monitors the national fulfilment of the principles and commitments set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

"I consider it important to include the professional insights and suggestions of people with disabilities and their representative organisations in the fulfilment of this task, in line with the provisions of the CRPD and the international guidelines that support the functioning of the Independent Mechanism of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Prior to the establishment of the new Disability Advisory Committee prescribed by the  Ombudsman Act, this is why I invite these organisations and their delegates to a professional roundtable discussion " – stressed Dr. Ákos Kozma.

The members of the National Disability Council - the National Federation of Organisations of People with a Physical Disability, the Hungarian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Hungarian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted, the Hungarian Deafblind Association, the Hungarian Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability, the National Autistic Society, the Mental Health Interest Forum, the Hungarian Aphasie Association, the Demosthenes Association, the National Council of Associations of Persons with Disabilities, the Hungarian Paralympic Committee, the National Association of Social Organisations and Foundations for Serving the Mentally Handicapped and the Heves County Parents’ Association of People with Multiple Disabilities - participated in the professional meeting.

Following her opening speech, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary provided information on the activities of the Disability Directorate of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary as an organisational unit, which represents a specific independent mechanism compliant with the requirements of CRPD and the aspects of the establishment of the Disability Advisory Committee. This was followed by presentations by OCFR staff. 
The meeting provided an opportunity for consultation and to hear the views of the invited organisations on the implementation of the Independent Mechanism of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.