government: parliamentary democracy
state of civil and political rights: Free
constitution: 20 August 1949, revised on 19 April 1972 and in October 1989; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system
legal system: based German-Austrian legal system
legislative system: Unicameral National Assembly (Orszaggyules)
judicial system: Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly for nine-year terms)
religion: Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, other minorities
death row:
year of last executions: 0-0-0
death sentences: 0
executions: 0
international treaties on human rights and the death penalty:International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
1st Optional Protocol to the Covenant
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (aiming to the abolition of the death penalty)
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
6th Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (concerning the abolition of the death penalty)
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
Statute of the International Criminal Court (which excludes the death penalty)
situation:
Hungary has been abolitionist since 1990, following a decision by the Constitutional Court.
The last execution took place in 1988.
On July 16, 2003 Hungary deposited with the Council of Europe the instrument of ratification of Protocol No 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms banning the death penalty in all circumstances. Hungarian legislation grants refugee or forced migrant status only to those foreign citizens who could face the death penalty, torture or inhuman treatment if extradited to their countries.
On 29 September 2017, Hungary voted in favour of the Resolution on the Death Penalty at the 36° session of the UN Council on Human Rights.
On December 16, 2020, Hungary co-sponsored and voted again in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the UN General Assembly, as in previous years.
