Implementation issues

• Author: Kádár, András
• Pages: 116-120

116

8IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES

8.1Dissemination of information, dialogue with NGOs and between social

partners

a)Dissemination of information about legal protection against discrimination

Since it was established, the Authority, which as a Government agency works under the

supervision of the Government, has been active in disseminating information about the

legal protection against discrimination.

The Authority’s website (www.egyenlobanasmod.hu) contains a lot of information,

including the relevant legislation, a brief and clearly formulated description of the

Authority’s scope of competence and the Authority’s case law.

Mention has to be made of a grant provided to the Authority with the aim of enhancing its

effectiveness and accessibility within the framework of the Social Renewal Operative

Programme 5.5.5 (herein after referred to as the TÁMOP project). The TÁMOP project was

financed by the European Social Fund and the Hungarian state; it ran from 2009to2014.262

The total TÁMOP project budget was approximately EUR 2 679410 (HUF 911 million).263

As the first element of the project, an equal treatment referee system was established in

September 2009. The 20 referees (lawyers, solicitors) were initially based in the ‘Houses

of Opportunities’ (a regional equal opportunities network) in every county seat and in the

capital. Since 2011, a more diverse system has been in place, and the referees are now

available for consultations in the offices of NGOs, Government offices and community

centres. They forward complaints of discrimination, provide assistance to the complainants

in formulating their petitions and operate as a kind of filtering system. In 2017, the referee

system served 1 618 clients and forwarded 73 complaints to the Authority.264In 2018,

these numbers were 1 576 and 64, respectively.265

The TÁMOP project consisted of three further elements.

The first element was a series of campaigns, aimed at raising awareness among the general

public. Its activities included the following:

−forwarding the Authority’s newsletter to over 2 500 addresses;

−organising 10 workshops for 100 participants each (6 in universities) participating in

over 350 events (conferences, workshops) aimed at transferring knowledge about

the issue of non-discrimination;

−arranging close to 1 000 appearances on radio and over 1 700 on television;

−publishing 3 000 copies of a short film about non-discrimination and 3 000 copies of

a multimedia DVD on the issue;

−organising different competitions (for short films dealing with non-discrimination; for

artwork by young people that was later turned into a travelling exhibition; and a

design competition);

−placing over 23 000 posters and 200 giant posters and circulating over 80000

leaflets.

The second element consisted of a series of training events held by the Authority for

teachers, social workers and the media, combined with workshops with NGOs and public

262 For information on the project grant, see https://www.palyazat.gov.hu/doc/1311.

263 Unless indicated otherwise, the results of the programme are presented on the basis of its closing study,

available at: https://www.egyenlobanasmod.hu/sites/default/files/kiadvany/TAMOP_zarokiadvany.pdf.

264https://www.egyenlobanasmod.hu/hu/eves-tajekoztato/egyenlo-banasmod-hatosag-2017-evi-

tevekenysege-szamok-tukreben.

265https://www.egyenlobanasmod.hu/index.php/hu/hirek/az-egyenlo-banasmod-hatosag-tevekenysege-2018-

ban.