For the past few years, the Hungarian government has been systematically targeting homeless people (even criminalising them), while failing to ensure sufficient support services and appropriate accommodation. EPHA Member FEANTSA (the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless) and Housing Rights Watch (HRW), along with partners in Hungary, will hold a seminar to bring allies together to consider legal and political strategies to combat this alarming trend in Hungary.
Background
EPHA has been reported that the government of Hungary intended to prohibit street homelessness in the country’s constitution . In spite of national and international critics, this controversial amendment has been adopted. FEANTSA, Housing Rights Watch and other European partners and organisations have tried to support local groups like The City is For All on their endeavours to raise awareness on the unjust and unconstitutional treatment of homeless people in Hungary.
Seminar Programme
– Lakhatási jogok Magyarországon Szakmai tanácskozás programtervezete – itt olvasható
The objectives of this seminar are:
- Create links and reinforce relationships between organisations working on rights and housing and homelessness in Hungary (e.g. FEANTSA members, The City is For All, Human Rights Watch, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Movement of Social Workers) for a new way of working
- Raise awareness and build links with political allies at national level (Hungarian Members of Parliament, Ombudsman office, etc.) and at European level (Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Europe – invited but not yet confirmed) and other agencies (the Fundamental Rights Agency, etc.);
- Leverage housing rights expertise within FEANTSA’s expert group on the right to housing and Housing Rights Watch as well as that of lawyers working with FEANTSA pro bono;
- Develop legal and political strategies for a better way forward for Hungary: work together with NGO, legal and political allies to resist further restrictions on rights, and call for a real strategy to end homelessness in Hungary.
Seminar Venue:
BMSZKI, 1139 Budapest, Szabolcs utca 33‐35 see details here
Deadline for registrations: Thursday 28 March 2013
Contact: Samara Jones
Policy Officer, FEANTSA
194 Chaussée de Louvain, 1210 Brussels, Belgium
Samara.jones@feantsa.org
