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Ombudsman on the ground
The Commissioner continues to fulfil his tasks under his various mandates during the COVID-19 crisis by way of personal inspections.
Using his general fundamental rights protection and other specific mandates (as OPCAT National Preventive Mechanism, his mandate in the newly acquired area of police complaints handling, as well as the ones pertaining to the protection of child rights and the rights of disabled persons, etc.), the Commissioner has carried out so far 20 on-site visits at different locations in order to observe and ensure that the rights of the most vulnerable groups of society – children, disabled persons, persons deprived of their liberty –, and all citizens and other nationals coming into contact with law enforcement agencies and other public actors are respected.
The Commissioner has requested information from the Operational Group responsible for the containment of the coronavirus infection, the Hungarian Prison Service Headquarters, the National Police Headquarters, the Ministry of Human Capacities, the Hungarian Directorate-General for Social Affairs and Child Protection concerning the special procedures they have put in place in relation to the COVID-19 crisis. The Commissioner also inquired about the technical conditions for ensuring confidential remote communication between persons deprived of their liberty and the staff members of the NPM. The Commissioner requested the authorities to designate a contact person who would be available on short notice and could provide information about the setting-up of new and temporary places of detention, such as home quarantines. Furthermore, in line with the SPT Advice (CAT/OP/9) on compulsory quarantine for coronavirus, the CFR has visited several home quarantines.
To date the Commissioner has visited the following child protection facilities, care homes for people living with disabilities, penitentiary institutions, places of detention, strategically important police or military centres, and border crossing points.
Source: Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, Hungary
