Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, held a working meeting with Dr. Imre Juhász, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Hungary. The parties discussed practical mechanisms of cooperation between the institutions and agreed on a series of joint steps aimed at strengthening the protection of the rights of Ukrainian and Hungarian citizens. This was reported by Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.
According to Dmytro Lubinets, one of the key outcomes of the meeting was the agreement to establish a permanent working group that will promptly respond to potential violations of the rights of citizens of both states. The initiative has already received support from the Hungarian side, and its practical implementation will begin in the near future.
Another important area of cooperation will be conducting joint monitoring visits. Representatives of the Ukrainian and Hungarian institutions plan to visit educational institutions and meet with representatives of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine. In turn, the Ukrainian delegation will make a similar visit to Hungary to familiarize themselves with the practices of protecting the rights of Ukrainian citizens residing in the country.
Special attention during the negotiations was paid to protecting the rights of Ukrainians who found refuge in Hungary after the start of the full-scale war. Dmytro Lubinets asked his Hungarian colleague to pay particular attention to the observance of their rights and to respond promptly to potential violations.
The Ukrainian side also raised the issue of international cooperation, particularly Hungary’s support for Ukraine’s acquisition of observer status in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Dr. Imre Juhász expressed readiness to support this endeavor.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to start preparing a Memorandum of Cooperation between the institutions. The document is intended to lay the foundation for systemic interaction, regular exchange of information, and the implementation of joint initiatives in the field of human rights protection.
Commenting on the results of the negotiations, Imre Juhász noted: “Neighbors must remain good neighbors.” Dmytro Lubinets thanked the Hungarian delegation for their openness to dialogue and readiness to move from agreements to practical actions.
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Photo: Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights