Office of the commissioner for fundamental rights of hungary

On 2 December, 2024, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Dr. Ákos Kozma presented a report to the National Assembly on the 2023 activities of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary and his deputies.

During his keynote speech in the plenary parliamentary debate, Dr. Ákos Kozma highlighted:
“In 2023, the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary issued 187 reports containing suggestions, with a total of 193 actual suggestions. Citizens submitted 5 742 petitions to us, of which our Office concluded and closed 4 772 cases in 2023. The increase in case numbers is significantly influenced by the expanding fundamental rights mandate, namely the special responsibilities and tasks recently entrusted to the Ombudsman’s institution by the National Assembly. In my assessment, these figures demonstrate that our Office continues to enjoy broad public trust in its work.”

Dr. Ákos Kozma also reported positively on the continuation of the Ombudsman’s children's home renovation project in 2023. This initiative, which began in 2021, is based on the collaboration with the Hungarian Prison Service and state forestry services.

From 1 January, 2023, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary assumed the role of independent framework for disability rights. Additionally, from 24 July, 2023, his responsibilities further expanded to include the tasks defined in Act XXV of 2023, concerning complaints and public interest disclosures. The Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary provided an update on the initiation of these responsibilities.

In his conclusion, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary emphasized that one of the key elements of the activities of 2023 was the role of serving as a bridge for fundamental rights protection, both domestically and internationally. He stressed the deliberate commitment to working collaboratively with various stakeholders to find solutions to major fundamental rights challenges, which he also considers as a guiding principle for the future.