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U.S. Report: No Credible Evidence of Significant Human Rights Abuses in Hungary

Hungary Today 2025.08.13.

Based on the 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices issued by the US Department of State, there have been no significant changes in the human rights situation in Hungary. The document acknowledges that the Hungarian Government has taken consistent and effective action to investigate cases of human rights violations and hold those responsible to account.

The report confirms that Hungary’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression, while government measures in the media market serve to protect national security interests. The establishment of the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty strengthens the transparency and protection of the functioning of the state and society, while laws strictly prohibit hate speech and the denial of the Holocaust and other totalitarian crimes, emphasizing historical responsibility.

The fight against anti-Semitism remains a central element of Hungarian society’s policy.

In 2024, Hungary officially recorded only a single physical antisemitic attack. The report further notes that, although antisemitic incidents in Hungary rose to 128 in 2023, the vast majority were classified as acts of hate speech rather than physical violence.

In contrast, Germany experienced a significant surge in antisemitic incidents in the country, with the Federal Association of Research and Information Centres on Antisemitism (RIAS) documenting 8,627 cases, marking a 77% increase from the previous year. Similarly, the United States saw a record high of 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), reflecting a 344% rise over the past five years.

In the field of labor rights, Hungary guarantees the rights of workers, with particular regard to working hours, a safe working environment, and collective organization. In certain areas of the public sector, the continuous provision of services is regulated by law, while in the private sector, the full enforcement of labor rights is guaranteed. The government also pays particular attention to improving health and safety at work.

Budapest. Photo: Pexels

In terms of Hungary’s much maligned freedom of press, the U.S. investigators found no violations. On the contrary, they only mentioned incidents of foreign interference via the anti-government left-wing press. According to them the “Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO) launched investigations against Transparency International Hungary and the watchdog nongovernmental organization Atlatszo in order to review whether they served the interests of a foreign lobbying network. The SPO released the report based on its review of Atlatszo that concluded that having accepted foreign funding, Atlatszo also engaged in activities aimed at influencing state and social decision-making processes and was part of a complex international network representing the interests of its financiers, causing significant political, economic, and social harm to the country.”

In the field of child protection, Hungary consistently combats child labor and child marriage, strictly adhering to international standards. In its asylum policy, the government prioritizes national security and sovereignty, while cooperating with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and ensuring the rights of asylum seekers in accordance with Hungarian law.

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Featured photo: Pexels


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