HR4Homelessness - Integrating Harm Reduction in Homeless Services

Laws and policies on drug use and harm reduction The beginnings of harm reduction in Hungary go back to the early 1990s, in a period when illicit drug use increased rapidly after the fall of the Iron Curtain and the opening of the borders (Dénes and Nyizsnyánszky 2003). [...] A coalition of human rights NGOs (Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Street Lawyers) submitted their letter to the Constitutional Court in which they argued that the law violates the principle of the rule of law, the right to human dignity, the right to property, the right to privacy, the right to fair trial and effective legal remedy and protection (Misdemeanour Workin. [...] In November 2014, after the closure of the two largest harm reduction programs in Hungary, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union submitted a complaint to the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, asking him to investigate political attacks by the mayor of the 8th district of Budapest against the needle and syringe program operated by the Blue Point NGO. [...] Despite the recommendation of the ombudsman to reopen the programs, the mayor of District 8 did not do so but launched a counter-attack in the media accusing the ombudsman of being manipulated by the drug lobby. [...] Due to the repeated attacks, the lack of financial and political support from the Ministry and the raise in the renting fee of the venue, the program had to close down in August 2014.