Office of the commissioner for fundamental rights of hungary

In order to provide direct help to the refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights opened a new information point at the BOK Sports Hall (Budapest Olympic Centre) on 29 March 2022. From now on, the staff members of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, which is a National Human Rights Institution accredited by the United Nations, can provide administrative and legal assistance to those turning to them at the humanitarian transit point set up by the Government in Budapest (in addition to Záhony and Beregsurány), while assisting in the humanitarian relief efforts of the capital.

Ombudsman Dr. Ákos Kozma considers it of key importance that the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights provide direct legal and humanitarian assistance to as many people as possible in these extraordinary times. With that in mind, in the days following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights – which is a National Human Rights Institution accredited by the United Nations – opened a temporary field office at the Záhony railway station, and it set up an information point at the Beregsurány reception point in the middle of March.

“The crisis has been going on for more than a month now, and ever since its outbreak, our staff members have been working on site continuously, providing administrative and legal assistance to those fleeing to Hungary by providing them with essential information. Our staff members have been giving information to the refugees about the possibilities of initiating a fundamental-rights-related complaint, and they have been assisting in the humanitarian relief efforts. In order to reach out more efficiently to those fleeing the war in Ukraine, we also provide assistance to those turning to us through our officers in charge of our regional offices in Debrecen and Miskolc, among others. Moreover, as of today, we are also at the disposal of all those requesting the Ombudsman’s assistance at the BOK Sports Hall”, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Dr. Ákos Kozma pointed out at the opening of the OCFR Information Point in Budapest.