Why does the state want to tell people how they should spend their own money for the common good?
According to a decree issued by the government on 30th June, all civil society organisations (CSO) would be obligated to name all their individual donors (regardless of the amount) in their public-benefit status report from 1st July this year onwards (first in May 2022). The unexpected government decree was issued without consultation with the concerned stakeholders and restricts a number of fundamental rights. It is in contradiction with Hungarian and EU law and ignores the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union issued last June. It violates the right to freedom of association, respect for private and family life and the protection of personal data. This decree is retroactive and unenforceable, and may deter donors from supporting CSOs. Civilization coalition demands the Hungarian government not to deprive citizens of their right to support civil society organizations in their own chosen way.
Fortunately, many people know that helping others is good: millions of people support issues which are important to them. There is tremendous power in this, the power of self-organizing communities, because Hungarian CSOs undertake a number of tasks that - in other countries - are carried out by governments.
They act to get a crosswalk on the road and to have adequate street lighting. They speak out so that underprivileged tenants do not lose their homes because of a malicious law. They act to preserve our natural waters and keep them freely accessible. They monitor if spending public money really serves the public. They work every day so that people are not exposed to uncontrolled power, so that they can live and love freely as equal citizens. They do everything they can to leave a sustainable world for our children.
People who support CSOs support the achieving of these goals. Some are known by their names, some remain anonymous - the legal framework allows for both.
Civilization coalition demands the Hungarian government to repeal this unnecessary and meaningless decree and not to interfere in the lives of people who support a cause for the sake of their country. The good intentions of people helping each other cannot be stopped by any regulation.
Civilization Coalition is proud of the donors of civil society organisations and encourages them to keep up the good work! They should continue to participate in the lives of many thousands of small and large hungarian CSOs, and be proud of everything they achieve together. Let others know that helping each other is good!
Signatories:
This statement was initiated by the following organisations:
Amnesty International Magyarország
Artemisszió Alapítvány
Az Emberség Erejével Alapítvány
Állítsuk meg a Gyilkos Robotokat
Civil Kollégium Alapítvány
Greenpeace Magyarország Egyesület
Háttér Társaság
Humán Platform
Levegő Munkacsoport
Magyar Helsinki Bizottság
Magyar Női Érdekérvényesítő Szövetség
MASZK Egyesület (Szeged)
Nyomtass te is!
Ökotárs Alapítvány
Társaság a Szabadságjogokért
Terre des hommes Alapítvány „Lausanne”
Transparency International Magyarország Alapítvány
Utcáról Lakásba Egyesület
Védegylet
