U.S. Statement at the Universal Periodic Review of Hungary
As Delivered by Jesse Lynch, Human Rights Officer
39th Session
We welcome the Delegation and recommend that Hungary:
1. Reverse the politicization of the judicial system by strengthening the National Judicial Council’s powers, instituting the random allocation of cases, and protecting judges from political pressure, criticism, or retribution;
2. Increase media independence by eliminating political bias in the National Media Council, allocating state advertising funds equitably to all outlets, and restoring the independence of the public broadcaster;
3. Combat intolerance and discrimination against members of vulnerable groups, including refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, women and girls, Roma, Muslims, Jews, and LGBTQI+ persons. This effort should include discouraging intolerant rhetoric, and repealing laws that ban public depictions of LGBTQI+ persons in the media and that refuse to legally recognize trans individuals’ gender identity.
We further urge Hungary to take concrete steps to implement the recommendations accepted during previous UPR cycles.