The Union of Hungarian Students in Vojvodina
Ladies and gentlemen, it is great pleasure to be here in this forum.
In the previous year, one could hear a lot in the news about Serbia, which was one of the
countries crossed by a main traffic road of the migrants targeting Europe. However the public
opinion • should also notice the violation of the rights of traditional national minorities.
We represent the Hungarian minority from Vojvodina, the northwestern autonomous province in
Serbia. The Hungarian community living in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina counts more than
two hundred thousand people, representing 12% of the population in the province.
Although besides the Serbian, there are five official languages in Vojvodina, and one of them is the
Hungarian, language rights are often not respected. As a student organization we would like to present
an example of law infringements which is concerning university students.
.
Although the Faculty of Novi Sad is bounded by a governmental decision to organize entrance
examinations in Hungarian language, the Faculty of Law does not respect this law. The Faculty of law
of is the only one not allowing students to take their entrance exam in Hungarian. By breaking this law
the Faculty discriminates minority students.
The Union of Hungarian Students in Vojvodina filed a lawsuit against the Faculty in December 2015.
During the case the lawyer of the student organization was deprived, as a revenge, of his doctoral
degree. Note that there are severe problems in the Hungarian public education-as well.
We would also like to :Mention that the Serbian government makes attempts to change the ethniC
proportions of the regions with Hungarian majority. Moreover, adthinistrative districts have been re
shaped in such a way that the Hungarian population become minoritary. Language rights in minoritary
regions are often not respected.
It is worth to mention that rehabilitatio. n and restitution processes are progressing very slowly. We
would like to draw your attention to these serious violations of law, and would kindly ask you to watch
closely the case.
Thank you very much for your attention.