A/HRC/4/9/Add.2 page 4 Introduction 1. The Independent Expert on minority issues, in pursuance of her mandate, visited Hungary from 25 June to 4 July 2006. During the course of her visit, she conducted extensive consultations with government representatives, civil society organizations, and academic and media institutions and visited the Budapest and Pecs regions. She conducted interviews, including with senior government officials, in order to assess the situation of minorities in Hungary, and gained the views of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others working in the field of minority issues through consultations and open discussion forums. 2. The Independent Expert undertook visits to minority communities, including a Roma community in the Pecs region and a German minority community in the Budapest region, to consult directly with community members, local minority self-government representatives and others in order to gain their views and opinions. She undertook visits to kindergartens, schools and community centres, local cultural institutions, and to a Roma housing rehabilitation scheme. She met specifically with women from minority communities, notably the Roma, in order to gain their perspectives on issues related to her mandate and held a dedicated forum for Roma women. 3. In view of the particularly serious situation faced by the Roma minority relative to other minorities in Hungary, the Independent Expert considered that the Roma warranted a particular focus during her visit. A particular emphasis was placed upon Roma issues in consultations, discussion forums and visits, and is reflected in the present report. While focusing on Roma in Hungary, the Independent Expert acknowledges the serious situation faced by Roma Europe-wide. Her focus on Roma in no way reflects a negative judgement as to the relative situation of Roma in comparison with their situation in other European countries. Analysis indicates that Hungary has demonstrated innovation and leadership in its efforts aimed at confronting anti-Roma discrimination. 4. The Independent Expert’s evaluation of the situation of minorities in Hungary is based on the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (hereafter “the 1992 Declaration on Minorities”) and other relevant international standards, which identify four broad areas of concern relating to minorities globally. These are: (a) protecting a minority’s existence, including through protection of their physical integrity and the prevention of genocide; (b) protecting and promoting cultural and social identity, and the right of national, ethnic, religious or linguistic groups to affirm and protect their collective identity and to reject forced assimilation; (c) ensuring effective non-discrimination and equality, including ending structural or systemic discrimination; and (d) ensuring effective participation of members of minorities in public life, especially with regard to decisions that affect them. 5. The Independent Expert was provided with excellent assistance and cooperation from the Hungarian authorities throughout the planning and conduct of her visit. She also thanks numerous NGOs and academic institutions for their vital assistance, support, information and documentation, which has greatly informed her visit and subsequent report and recommendations. She also benefited from the work of the Council of Europe Secretariat to the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities, and the office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe High Commissioner on National Minorities.