“Hungarian human rights lawyer receives award”
“The Hungarian Helsinki committee dealing with the rights of refugees in a country where the prime minister Victor Orbán’s policies led many to loudly protest.”
“One of the leaders of the committee, Márta Pardavi, is praised now as the year human rights defenders for their work in Hungary.”
“– In Hungary, it requires today a great deal of courage to dare to talk about human rights and democratic values. Many people want to talk, but many also feel that they can’t do it, ” says Márta Pardavi to the TT.”
“Pardavi receive the award, which is awarded by the human rights organisation Civil Rights Defenders for their work,”
” We have for the past nine years, since the Orbán government took office, there has been a clear change in the perception of human rights and democracy. It was not perfect before, but now we see how the policy of including new stock has significantly downgraded the independent institutions to act as a control mechanism vis-à-vis the government, ” she says.”
“Victor Orbán has been criticised for controversial reforms and restrictions on the freedom of the press and freedom of association. In June of last year, the parliament adopted a new law that makes it illegal to help immigrants who are illegally in the country.”
“The Hungarian Helsinki committee work, in addition to providing legal assistance to people seeking asylum in Hungary, also to monitor human rights. The committee is clear in its criticism vis-à-vis the government, but on the question whether she is afraid that something will happen the organization responds Márta no.”
“– In many ways the Hungarian government is criticized for their actions, but Hungary could not yet be compared with, for example, Turkey or Egypt, ” she says, and continues:”
“– But it is known that one thing can lead to another.”
“the Award as the year’s Civil Rights Defender, she as a nice recognition for the organization’s work to stand up for human rights in Hungary.”
“– It comes with a lot of responsibility, but it is a nudge in the back for our organization. It makes it easier to feel a sense of what we are doing, ” she says.”
“by Márta Pardavi sees a bright future for Hungary, but says that it is now up to civil society to defend what she believes is a very weakened democracy. She believes that it is up to the Hungarian people to determine how you want the country to develop.”
” the Citizens themselves must feel that their institutions need to be protected, as, for example, that the judiciary needs to be independent. The most important thing is to ensure that the society is strengthened, and also society believe in these values, ” says Márta Pardavi.”
“Awarded the Civil Rights Defender is then 2013 out of the human rights organisation Civil Rights Defenders.”
“It should go to people who, despite risk to their own security is working for people’s human and political rights are recognised and defended.”
“in 2013 the award went to the Serbian activist Natasa Kandić, 2014 to the belarusian activist Ales Byalyatski, 2015 to the vietnamese blogger Nguyen Ngoc Quyn, 2016 to the Azerbaijani human rights lawyer Intigam Aliyev, and 2017 was the recipient Edmund Yakani, who leads the organization CEPO, documenting human rights violations in south Sudan. 2018 received Murat Celikkan from Turkey, one of the leaders of the human rights organisation Hafiza Merkezi, the award.”
“the Award consists of a statuette and a diploma.”
