Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities (Deputy Ombudsman)
The Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities living in Hungary is a public official institutionalised by the Fundamental Law and is a key control institution of the Parliament. Its task is to investigate or inquire into any irregularities that come to its attention in connection with the exercise of national minority rights in the activities of public authorities or public service bodies and to initiate general or specific measures to remedy them. The institution coincides with the transformation of public law that accompanied regime change, and its accumulated knowledge and embeddedness have made it a central guarantee-like element of legal protection of nationalities. The Constitution recognised four specialised ombudsman positions, including the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for National and Ethnic Minority Rights which was first filled by Parliament in 1995. After nearly twenty years of efficient and effective operation, the position of Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities (Deputy Ombudsman) was created as of 1 January 2012, following a change in policy concept and the abolition of the previous post of Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities (Deputy Ombudsman) performs its tasks in close cooperation with the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. It regularly informs the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, the institutions concerned, and the public about its experience of the enforcement of the rights of national minorities living in Hungary, and draws the attention of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, the institutions concerned and the public to the risk of violations of the rights of national minorities. It may propose and assist in the initiation of ex officio proceedings before the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights or act autonomously with delegated powers. It may also publish its findings in a general statement of principles as a separate technical document and in a joint report with the Commissioner. It may propose the drafting and amendment of legislation affecting the rights of national minorities living in Hungary and may propose that the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights refer the matter to the Constitutional Court. To shape Roma policy, it gives its opinion on the Government’s strategy on social inclusion and monitors the implementation of its objectives concerning the nationalities living in Hungary.