They couldn’t keep us away from the debate about us

At its "open" meeting, Parliament's Committee on Judicial Affairs "discussed" the draft legislation stigmatizing CSOs. All the citizens who pre-registered for the open session according to the rules, were rejected “due to lack of space”. Then, when the dozens of civilians demonstrating in silence arrived - also acting in accordance with the rules in force with the intervention of a member of parliament - the meeting was suspended and the parliament guard, which guarantees the safety of the Parliament, was notified. Having established that citizens demonstrating peacefully and lawfully did not mean a security risk, the meeting continued with all amendments rejected without meaningful discussion.

Why is it important?

• Because the proponents of the deceitful law have proved again that they are not interested in reality, that CSOs help citizens in need in the country, protect the health of our common environment and thus our fellow human beings, and work to make Hungary a more livable place.

• Because they also showed that if they don’t like the counter-opinion, they change the rules so that we can’t even talk about the problems anymore.

• Because this is not just the case of a few big foreign funded CSOs . All associations and foundations that work on social, health, environmental, cultural, sports or other professional grounds in the course of their work also defend rights. They defend the right of people in their community to a healthy environment, to equal treatment, to have a voice on issues that affect them.

This is what the law wants to stigmatize. Now it’s the foreign funded organizations’ turn others will turn tomorrow.

So let us stand together every day against the lying, false and deceitful bill that stigmatizes civilians - write to your MP, call on the ministries, speak up!

Send an e-mail to your Member of Parliament! DRAFT LETTER (in Hungarian)

We are here to stay and reject the stigma; we stay so others can stay.