Stranded Hope: Hungary's Sustained Attack on the Rights of Refugees and Migrants

Fences, teargas, and draconian legislation: over the last year the Hungarian authorities have baulked at little in their determination to keep refugees and migrants out of the country. The government’s programme of militarization, criminalization and isolation has ushered in a set of measures which have resulted in violent push-backs at the border with Serbia, unlawful detentions inside the country and dire living conditions for those waiting at the border. While the Hungarian government has spent millions of Euros on a xenophobic advertising campaign, refugees are left to languish. This briefing documents the pernicious consequences of Hungary’s current policies in flagrant breach of international human rights and refugee law and EU directives.