[JURIST] UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay [official website] on Tuesday urged [press release] the Hungarian government to revoke constitutional amendments that have recently come under fire for undermining the country’s constitutional justice and for threatening the independence of the country’s judiciary. Pillay’s call to the Hungarian government came after the Venice Commission [official website] released a report expressing concern that the new constitution does not afford enough protection [JURIST report] for fundamental human rights. Pillay welcomed the Venice Commission’s report and also reminded the Hungarian government that a number of its legislative changes since 2010 have come under scrutiny by various UN special rapporteurs. Pillay stated, “Hungary should seek to maintain high standards of human rights protection.”

Hungary has recently received much criticism [JURIST op-ed] for the recent changes to its constitution. In May Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] reported that the country’s new constitution undermines basic human rights [JURIST report]. Other constitutional changes have been subject to criticism, including restrictions on the homeless [JURIST report] and increased control of the media. The new laws were controversial when they were passed [JURIST report] and have been subject to ongoing scrutiny.