Blog 9: Domestic Abuse in Hungary

According to the Human Rights Watch the nation of Hungary has a large amount of domestic abuse. The report outlines women who have suffered terrible abuses ranging from beatings to being locked in sheds during the winter.  The organization has released a report stating that the nation doesn’t provide adequate aid or protection for women. The nation had up until a recent reform in July, not even considered domestic violence to be a crime for prosecutors to handle but left any legal responsibility to the victim. Now the law does require prosecutors to get involved, but only if it has been reported two times. The reports however are hard to come by considering there are no national standards for doctors or social workers to follow. The report also tells of how police are not properly trained and often accuse the victim. There are also not enough shelters in Hungary, should a victim decide to leave her abuser.

The article and subsequent report outline terrible abuses to human rights. According to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law”. By making laws discriminatory by making it harder for victims of abuse the government of Hungary is falling short of protecting this right. The fact that legal retribution is hard to come by for victims Hungary is also falling short of the human right that states “Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law”. By not providing the protection of these rights Hungary is allowing these abuses to occur and essentially giving the ok for its citizens to abuse others without fear of legal action. If they allow for this type of abuse to occur how can they then protect others from other atrocities, how do they then have authority to draw a line? All human rights should be upheld because they are essential to maintain fairness and order and are universal. To not uphold them in one place is saying its ok to ignore all the others and that anyone anywhere can do as they please.

Nicole Egna 

1:20pm 

11/8/13

http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/11/06/hungary-chronic-domestic-violence