Coordination at national level

• Author: Kádár, András
• Pages: 121-121

121

9 COORDINATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL

The Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Human Capacities and the

Equal Treatment Authority are primarily responsible for dealing with or coordinating issues

regarding anti-discrimination on the grounds covered by this report.

Several different bodies have also been established with the aim of discussing and

coordinating issues and activities falling under the scope of this report. In addition to the

Consultation Council for Roma Affairs mentioned above (in Section 8.1), mention may be

made of the Roma Coordination Council established by Government Resolution 1102/2011.

(IV.15.), which is tasked wi th monitoring the progress of the inclusion policies. Another

body is the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Social Inclusion and R oma Affairs, which was

set up by Government Resolution 1199/2010 with the purpose of coordinating Government

activities aimed at promoting the social integration of people living in extreme poverty and

improving their living conditions and social situation. The committee consists of

representatives of the relevant ministries an d is chaired by t he Secretary of State of the

Ministry of Interior. The committee’s working groups ho ld consultations with the relevant

Government agencies on various issues, including regional development, employment

policy, education policy, social policy and healthcare.

A special Prime Ministerial Commissioner is r esponsible f or coordinat ing the preparation

and implementation of the ‘diagnosis-based’ social integration of R oma.

Mention must also be m ade of the National Disab ility Council (NDC), wh ich was set up by

Government Resolution 1330/2013. Out of the 15 NDC members only the chair represents

the Government, whilst the other 14 members are nominated by the largest disability

organisations or by an alliance of smaller disability organisations. The NDC is al so a

consultative forum; it provides the Government and the minister responsible for promoting

equal opportunities with advice. The Government Resolution does not envisage any

consequence or sanctions if the NDC’s advice is not taken into account. The NDC also

serves as the focal point of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Committee.

This abundance of coordination bodies does not necessarily result in efficient operation, as

shown by what happened to the Anti-Segregation Roundtable. The round table was

established in June 2013 with the declared aim of monitoring and discussing important

issues related to educational integration and segregation (e.g. participation of civil society

and churches, professional standards). It was envisaged that it would enhance

communication between governmental and civ ilian actors. However, two representatives

of the civil s ector, a head of an after- school education programme (AEP) and t he Chance

for Children Foundation left the roundta ble in July and September 2013, respectively,

claiming that the Government disregarded their views and demands and that the meetings

were not at all productive.271 In April 2017, another two very experienced and credible

desegregation expert s – the leader of the Tanoda Unions and a social policy expert and

AEP organiser – followed their example, claiming that, although constructive work was

possible in the roundtable, the Government’s intimidating attitude towards civil society and

hostility towards the EU made it impossible for them to continue to par ticipate.272

271 See for instance: http://hvg.hu/itthon/20130711_Balog_Heindl_roma_szegregacio;

http://www.romnet.hu/hirek/2013/09/25/mohacsi_erzsebet_is_kivonult.

272 http://m.magyarnarancs.hu/belpol/eddig-es-ne-tovabb-ketten-is-fakepnel-hagytak-balog-zoltan-

kerekasztalat-103680?pageId=9.