CRC/C/HUN/CO/3-5
Below is a short summary of some of the key issues from the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s 67th session concluding observation for Hunagry’s combined third to fifth periodic reports to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
You can find other documents related to the Committee's 67th session (including alternative reports submitted by NGOs and the Committee's concluding observations for other States reviewed in this session) on the Committee’s session page.
Non-discrimination
The Committee was concerned about the still prevalent discriminatory attitude of the public against children in marginalized and disadvantaged situations, such as children with disabilities, children living in other family forms than heterosexual marriage, children belonging to ethnic or religious minorities, children with different sexual identities as well as migrant and unaccompanied children, which has been exacerbated by the economic crisis and poverty. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned about the intrinsic gender stereotypes in the society, which have a significant negative effect on girls (para.19).
Respect for the views of the child:
The Committee was concerned that under the Family Act children below the age of 14 years do not have an automatic right to be heard in decisions related to his or her custody and that in practice, children below the age of 14 are heard only as an exception even in divorce and child custody cases. (para.23).
Freedom of association and peaceful assembly:
The Committee recommends that the State party amend its legislation by abolishing age restrictions for management of associations (14 years), especially those created by children themselves, with a view to ensuring that children fully enjoy and exercise their rights in compliance with the provisions of the Convention (para.25,26).
Child abuse and neglect:
The Committee was concerned about the lack of timely and effective assistance and protection to children suffering from abuse and neglect as well as lack of prevention mechanisms, including awareness raising among children, parents and professionals working with and for children. Furthermore, the Committee was concerned that the State party lacks services to rehabilitate and assist child victims of neglect, abuse and exploitation (para.29).
Corporal punishment:
The Committee urged the State party to implement legislation prohibiting all form of corporal punishment in all settings and prohibit the use of force by school guards.(para.34).
Children deprived of family environment:
The Committee recommended that the State party take measures to ensure placement in institutional care is used only as a last resort; Ensure that children spend the shortest time possible in temporary care; Take urgent measures to ensure State control over all services provided by the church; Take measures to limit the use of psychotropic drugs on children in public care and ensure specialized homes for “problematic” children are used as a measure of last resort (para.39).
Adoption:
The Committee recommended that the State party take measures to remove unnecessary barriers for adoption of children in institutions, while at the same time ensuring proper screening of families where children are to be adopted. It recommended awareness-raising campaigns in order to encourage adoption of children of older age, children with disabilities or chronic diseases and Roma children with a view to providing such children with an opportunity to grow up in a family environment (para.41).
Children of incarcerated mothers:
The Committee recommended the State party take measures to enable children to visit their incarcerated parents (para.43).
Children with disabilities:
The Committee recommended that the State party take all necessary measures to: Increase support, to families with children with disabilities; Prevent widespread institutionalization of children with disabilities; Provide inclusive education for children with disabilities; Remove any barriers for the enrolment of children with autism in regular schools; (para.45).
Health:
The Committee recommended that the State party take measures to ensure that mandatory health insurance is extended to all children, without any discrimination. It recommended that health care facilities and personnel be available in all parts of the country, emphasising rural areas where it is deficient. (para.47). The Committee was concerned about the high rate of suicide among children and adolescents as well as the high rates of drug and alcohol abuse among adolescents. The Committee recommended that the State party take measures to prevent unwanted pregnancies and abortions among teenage girls (para.49).
Unaccompanied and refugee children:
The Committee recommended that the State party ensure that asylum seeking, unaccompanied and migrant children are not administratively detained under any circumstance. It also recommends that age assessment tests take into account all aspects, including psychological and environmental aspects, of the person under assessment (para.55).
Juvenile justice:
The Committee urged the State party reinstate the juvenile courts with judges who have undergone a special training; Take measures to increase the age of criminal responsibility from 12 years back to 14 years even for the most serious crimes; Ensure that detention of children is used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest possible time; Abolish the practice of sentencing children to prison terms for petty crimes (para.57).
Child victims and victims of crimes:
The Committee recommended that the State party ensure, through adequate legal provisions and regulations, that all children victims and/or witnesses of crimes are provided with the protection required by the Convention and by the UN on Justice in Matters Involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime (para.59).
