Human Rights Developments

Defending Human Rights

The Role of the International Community

Defending Human Rights

Growing activism by domestic human rights groups on behalf of Roma has ensured that the Hungarian government will be held publicly accountable for its failure to secure rights guarantees for minorities.

On July 2, 1998, Marton Ill, director of the Hungarian Centre for the Defense of Human Rights, was stopped on his way to a court appearance in Budapest. After producing his identity documents, Ill asked for a letter from the police explaining the delay to the court. The police colonel handcuffed Ill and placed him in a police car where he was reportedly beaten unconscious. Ill lodged an official complaint and planned on filing a criminal complaint against the colonel.