Following the general
elections in Slovakia in September 1998, the Basic Treaty, concluded in
1996, was finally fully implemented in November 1998. A joint Hungarian-Slovak
committee supervising the implementation of minority issues as specified
in the Basic Treaty began operations. Both the Hungarian minority in Slovakia
(over 550,000 people) and the Slovak minority in Hungary (around 100,000
people) are represented in this joint committee.
Whilst the situation of other
minorities does not pose any particular problem, continued attention needs
to be paid to the respect of the human rights of the Roma by the Hungarian
authorities (the Roma minority numbers between 400,000 and 600,000 people).
While their situation has not worsened, it has not improved markedly.
Roma continue to suffer widespread
prejudice and discrimination in their daily lives. They face discrimination
in access to education, employment, public institutions and services. Their
health and housing situation remain well below those of the rest of the
population. More than 150 segregated schools remain throughout Hungary.
International and non-governmental organisations reported institutional
prejudice against Roma, and the use of force by the police. According to
the Hungarian Government, identifying the ethnicity of offenders is not
allowed under the data protection law and thus no statistical evidence
on discrimination is available.
In order to tackle prejudices
between the Roma and the police, Government set up a specific programme
in April 1999. Under the programme, police will have an obligation to receive
representatives of the local Roma self-government in case of complaint.
The Ombudsman for Minority
Rights has been critical about labour market access for Roma. He stated
that there is no de jure, but there is de facto discrimination against
Roma people looking for a job. To remedy the situation, the Ombudsman proposes
obliging the labour centres to report on cases of discrimination against
Roma, as well as excluding employers engaged in such practices from public
works contracts.
The Government has adopted
a revised medium-term action programme aimed at improving the living conditions
of the Roma. The programme puts particular emphasis on improved education
and employment possibilities through extended scholarships along with social,
health and housing measures and agricultural projects. It contains a communication
strategy and anti-discrimination measures. Yearly action programmes for
the implementation of the measures defined in the medium-term programme
are worked out in coordination with the National Roma Self-Government and
the Office for National and Ethnic Minorities. Line Ministries will have
to plan separate budget items for the implementation of the different measures
within the action programme. An interministerial Committee for Roma affairs
headed by the Minister of Justice will be responsible for handling Roma
issues and for supervising the implementation of the action programme.
Public funding for the Roma
in 1999 included € 0.5 million for the National Roma Government and
around € 3 million for local minority self-Governments. In addition,
€ 2 million was provided by the state for Roma Foundations. Additional
support for the Roma minority was given through the Ministry of Education’s
public works programmes and in the framework of the development of cultural
institutions and services for Roma.
Following the elections of
the local minority self-governments, the number of Roma self-governments
has almost doubled. This trend can be interpreted as an increasing participation
of Roma in public life. Specific Roma Community centres (established with
financial support from the State budget) support local communities and
contribute to preserving Roma culture.
Despite the steps taken,
the situation of the Roma remains very difficult. Further attention needs
to be paid to fighting the prejudices of the majority of the population,
to ending discriminatory practices in public services, and to the full
enforcement of the revised medium term action programme at regional and
local level. These actions need to be accompanied by adequate budgetary
provisions.
General evaluation
Hungary fulfils the Copenhagen
political criteria. Two areas still need attention. The first
is the situation of the Roma, where the government is beginning to implement
its medium-term Roma action plan and needs to make available adequate budgetary
resources. The second is the fight against corruption where recent
efforts need to be re-inforced.