LydsG
@lydsg.bsky.social
Senior researcher on Eastern EU and Western Balkans at Human Rights Watch. Views expressed my own.
Reposted by LydsG
1/3 I’ve just returned home after a week interviewing older people on low pension incomes in Hungary for @hrw.org. The findings will be out in the coming months.
This photo is of an 80 year old woman showing me her notebook of expenses, in which every last forint is meticulously accounted for.
This photo is of an 80 year old woman showing me her notebook of expenses, in which every last forint is meticulously accounted for.
November 17, 2025 at 5:04 PM
1/3 I’ve just returned home after a week interviewing older people on low pension incomes in Hungary for @hrw.org. The findings will be out in the coming months.
This photo is of an 80 year old woman showing me her notebook of expenses, in which every last forint is meticulously accounted for.
This photo is of an 80 year old woman showing me her notebook of expenses, in which every last forint is meticulously accounted for.
Reposted by LydsG
In Hungary, Pastor Gábor Iványi, whose church supports people in poverty, faces absurd charges. The pastor and his church are human rights defenders providing shelter, food, education to people left behind by the state. The move is part of a wider crackdown on dissent.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Hungary: Pastor Supporting People in Poverty Faces Charges
Instead of supporting those who fill the gaps left by Hungary’s crumbling public services and social security system, the government is prosecuting them. On November 3, prosecutors charged Pastor Gábo...
www.hrw.org
November 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
In Hungary, Pastor Gábor Iványi, whose church supports people in poverty, faces absurd charges. The pastor and his church are human rights defenders providing shelter, food, education to people left behind by the state. The move is part of a wider crackdown on dissent.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Reposted by LydsG
Berättar senaste nytt:
• Joakim har äntligen fått träffa av familjen utsedd advokat i fängelset Maltepe där han sitter isolerad
• Hans reaktion på det massiva stödet senaste dygnet
• Inga formella anklagelser har delgivits honom
• Joakim har äntligen fått träffa av familjen utsedd advokat i fängelset Maltepe där han sitter isolerad
• Hans reaktion på det massiva stödet senaste dygnet
• Inga formella anklagelser har delgivits honom
Chefredaktören: Anklagelserna är falska – släpp Joakim Medin
Publicister, utgivare och politiker kräver att regeringen gör allt för att få Joakim fri.
www.etc.se
March 29, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Berättar senaste nytt:
• Joakim har äntligen fått träffa av familjen utsedd advokat i fängelset Maltepe där han sitter isolerad
• Hans reaktion på det massiva stödet senaste dygnet
• Inga formella anklagelser har delgivits honom
• Joakim har äntligen fått träffa av familjen utsedd advokat i fängelset Maltepe där han sitter isolerad
• Hans reaktion på det massiva stödet senaste dygnet
• Inga formella anklagelser har delgivits honom
Swedish journalist Joakim Medin arrested on arrival in Istanbul. His whereabouts unknown.
March 28, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Swedish journalist Joakim Medin arrested on arrival in Istanbul. His whereabouts unknown.
Reposted by LydsG
Min kollega Joakim Medin har frihetsberövats i Turkiet. Det är helt oacceptabelt, ett angrepp på pressfriheten, och regeringen måste agera därefter.
March 28, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Min kollega Joakim Medin har frihetsberövats i Turkiet. Det är helt oacceptabelt, ett angrepp på pressfriheten, och regeringen måste agera därefter.
Reposted by LydsG
Poland has adopted a law suspending the right to seek asylum for people entering the country via Belarus.
It's an effort to provide legal cover for Poland's abusive and unlawful border pushbacks. Learn more ⤵️
It's an effort to provide legal cover for Poland's abusive and unlawful border pushbacks. Learn more ⤵️
March 28, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Poland has adopted a law suspending the right to seek asylum for people entering the country via Belarus.
It's an effort to provide legal cover for Poland's abusive and unlawful border pushbacks. Learn more ⤵️
It's an effort to provide legal cover for Poland's abusive and unlawful border pushbacks. Learn more ⤵️
Poland just blatantly violated its own constitution, international law and Refugee Convention by adopting a law that suspends the right to seek asylum. Tusk today triggered it and closed the border to Belarus for asylum seekers. More on the law: www.hrw.org/news/2025/02...
Poland: Scrap Bill Suspending Right To Asylum
Members of the Polish parliament should reject a bill that would allow the government to temporarily suspend the right to asylum at Poland’s border with Belarus, Human Rights Watch said today. The Eur...
www.hrw.org
March 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Poland just blatantly violated its own constitution, international law and Refugee Convention by adopting a law that suspends the right to seek asylum. Tusk today triggered it and closed the border to Belarus for asylum seekers. More on the law: www.hrw.org/news/2025/02...
Ett fartyg fyllt med medmänsklighet
www.hrw.org
March 21, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Reposted by LydsG
Hungary's new anti-LGBT law bans Pride & penalizes public support for LGBT rights. It weaponizes facial recognition to target activists & suppress free expression. This is an alarming escalation of repression that demands urgent action from
@ec.europa.eu. www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...
@ec.europa.eu. www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...
Hungary Bans LGBT Pride Events
Hungary deepened its repression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people on March 18 as the parliament passed a draconian law that will outlaw Pride and similar events, thereby penaliz...
www.hrw.org
March 20, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Hungary's new anti-LGBT law bans Pride & penalizes public support for LGBT rights. It weaponizes facial recognition to target activists & suppress free expression. This is an alarming escalation of repression that demands urgent action from
@ec.europa.eu. www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...
@ec.europa.eu. www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...
Reposted by LydsG
In yet another crackdown on LGBT rights, Hungary’s parliament has passed a law that will outlaw LGBT Pride and similar events.
The law, which penalizes organizers and attendees, also authorizes the use of facial recognition technology to identify attendees.
The law, which penalizes organizers and attendees, also authorizes the use of facial recognition technology to identify attendees.
March 19, 2025 at 12:20 PM
In yet another crackdown on LGBT rights, Hungary’s parliament has passed a law that will outlaw LGBT Pride and similar events.
The law, which penalizes organizers and attendees, also authorizes the use of facial recognition technology to identify attendees.
The law, which penalizes organizers and attendees, also authorizes the use of facial recognition technology to identify attendees.
Reposted by LydsG
In a significant step toward affirming the rights of transgender people in Poland 🇵🇱, the country’s Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling eliminating the requirement for trans people to sue their parents in gender recognition proceedings.
New commentary from @hrw.org: hrw.org/news/2025/03...
New commentary from @hrw.org: hrw.org/news/2025/03...
Landmark Ruling on Trans Rights in Poland
In a significant step toward affirming the rights of transgender people in Poland, the country’s Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling that eliminates the requirement for trans people to involve ...
hrw.org
March 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
In a significant step toward affirming the rights of transgender people in Poland 🇵🇱, the country’s Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling eliminating the requirement for trans people to sue their parents in gender recognition proceedings.
New commentary from @hrw.org: hrw.org/news/2025/03...
New commentary from @hrw.org: hrw.org/news/2025/03...
Reposted by LydsG
With talk in Europe now of rearmament and the need for new security structures, it's vital European leaders and institutions keep human rights at the centre of their efforts. Democracy depends on it. My new piece for @hrw.org
www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...
Europe’s Democratic Future Depends on Human Rights
It’s been a deeply sobering and troubling few weeks for people who care about the future of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe.
www.hrw.org
March 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
With talk in Europe now of rearmament and the need for new security structures, it's vital European leaders and institutions keep human rights at the centre of their efforts. Democracy depends on it. My new piece for @hrw.org
www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...
Reposted by LydsG
There has been huge outrage following US' sanctions on @intlcrimcourt.bsky.social. But there have also been major glitches.
🥇 3 EU states failed to sign joint statement 🇮🇹🇨🇿🇭🇺
🥈 @kajakallas.bsky.social's no-show, so far. Time to show concerns, press US to reverse course.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/02...
🥇 3 EU states failed to sign joint statement 🇮🇹🇨🇿🇭🇺
🥈 @kajakallas.bsky.social's no-show, so far. Time to show concerns, press US to reverse course.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/02...
World Responds to Trump’s Targeting of International Criminal Court
US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February 6 authorizing sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and others supporting the court’s work. The ICC’s prosecutor, Ka...
www.hrw.org
February 12, 2025 at 1:47 PM
There has been huge outrage following US' sanctions on @intlcrimcourt.bsky.social. But there have also been major glitches.
🥇 3 EU states failed to sign joint statement 🇮🇹🇨🇿🇭🇺
🥈 @kajakallas.bsky.social's no-show, so far. Time to show concerns, press US to reverse course.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/02...
🥇 3 EU states failed to sign joint statement 🇮🇹🇨🇿🇭🇺
🥈 @kajakallas.bsky.social's no-show, so far. Time to show concerns, press US to reverse course.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/02...
Reposted by LydsG
More meals in #Hungary's hospitals...
Salt soup (also served to patients with high blood pressure); dry bread & dry bun (which you can cut if you brought your own knife), packets of apple sauce (with 11g of sugar but still served to those with diabeties) and low-grade paté.
Salt soup (also served to patients with high blood pressure); dry bread & dry bun (which you can cut if you brought your own knife), packets of apple sauce (with 11g of sugar but still served to those with diabeties) and low-grade paté.
January 15, 2025 at 8:31 AM
More meals in #Hungary's hospitals...
Salt soup (also served to patients with high blood pressure); dry bread & dry bun (which you can cut if you brought your own knife), packets of apple sauce (with 11g of sugar but still served to those with diabeties) and low-grade paté.
Salt soup (also served to patients with high blood pressure); dry bread & dry bun (which you can cut if you brought your own knife), packets of apple sauce (with 11g of sugar but still served to those with diabeties) and low-grade paté.
Reposted by LydsG
Just for comparison, this is what I had for lunch, when I was in a Belgian hospital 6 years ago
January 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Just for comparison, this is what I had for lunch, when I was in a Belgian hospital 6 years ago
Reposted by LydsG
Reposted by LydsG
Note also the paper plate cut in half - and the toilet paper, which patients have to bring from home & provide for themselves. "We have no money" staff say, but #Hungary is not a poor country; it's simply corrupt as hell. There is money; it just disappears before it ever reaches people who need care
More meals in #Hungary's hospitals...
Salt soup (also served to patients with high blood pressure); dry bread & dry bun (which you can cut if you brought your own knife), packets of apple sauce (with 11g of sugar but still served to those with diabeties) and low-grade paté.
Salt soup (also served to patients with high blood pressure); dry bread & dry bun (which you can cut if you brought your own knife), packets of apple sauce (with 11g of sugar but still served to those with diabeties) and low-grade paté.
January 15, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Note also the paper plate cut in half - and the toilet paper, which patients have to bring from home & provide for themselves. "We have no money" staff say, but #Hungary is not a poor country; it's simply corrupt as hell. There is money; it just disappears before it ever reaches people who need care
Reposted by LydsG
It’s final: Hungary 🇭🇺 has lost € 1 BILLION of EU funds, and could lose even more, due to the government’s recalcitrant position. A tragic loss for Hungarian society.
Here’s an independent assessment of where progress on rule of law criteria has been insufficient or missing ⬇️
Here’s an independent assessment of where progress on rule of law criteria has been insufficient or missing ⬇️
New joint NGO report -- 2 years after the suspension of EU🇪🇺 funds to Hungary🇭🇺, the government's compliance with rule of law supermilestones and other criteria set by the Commission and Council remains inadequate.
Full report: helsinki.hu/en/wp-conten...
🚦 assessment: helsinki.hu/en/wp-conten...
Full report: helsinki.hu/en/wp-conten...
🚦 assessment: helsinki.hu/en/wp-conten...
January 2, 2025 at 12:13 PM
It’s final: Hungary 🇭🇺 has lost € 1 BILLION of EU funds, and could lose even more, due to the government’s recalcitrant position. A tragic loss for Hungarian society.
Here’s an independent assessment of where progress on rule of law criteria has been insufficient or missing ⬇️
Here’s an independent assessment of where progress on rule of law criteria has been insufficient or missing ⬇️
Reposted by LydsG
Human Rights Watch urges EU action against Poland’s illegal pushbacks
Human Rights Watch urges EU action against Poland’s illegal pushbacks
HRW reported 87 people died near the border between September 2021 and October 2024.
The post Human Rights Watch urges EU action against Poland’s illegal pushbacks appeared first on Euractiv.
dlvr.it
December 11, 2024 at 6:03 AM
Human Rights Watch urges EU action against Poland’s illegal pushbacks
Reposted by LydsG
This is by design - as article notes legislation adopted in 2022 and 2023 made it easier to crackdown on protest. It also led to protestors being jailed for acts that previously would not have led to a prison sentence. Time for UK to set a different *positive* example by repealing those laws.
"British police arrest environmental protesters at nearly 3 times the global average rate, research has found... Only Australia arrested climate and environmental protesters at a higher rate..."
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Britain leads the world in cracking down on climate activism, study finds
Research shows UK police arrest environmental and climate protesters at three times the average global rate
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2024 at 10:28 AM
This is by design - as article notes legislation adopted in 2022 and 2023 made it easier to crackdown on protest. It also led to protestors being jailed for acts that previously would not have led to a prison sentence. Time for UK to set a different *positive* example by repealing those laws.
Reposted by LydsG
“No future returns of Syrians should take place until their claims are individually examined in full and fair procedures with due regard for past trauma and future fears.” My thoughts on the need to suspend forced returns of Syrians even as many refugees choose to go home. @hrw.org
t.co/rGVIVPR9Yd
t.co/rGVIVPR9Yd
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/12/10/many-syrian-refugees-return-home-others-cannot
t.co
December 11, 2024 at 5:53 AM
“No future returns of Syrians should take place until their claims are individually examined in full and fair procedures with due regard for past trauma and future fears.” My thoughts on the need to suspend forced returns of Syrians even as many refugees choose to go home. @hrw.org
t.co/rGVIVPR9Yd
t.co/rGVIVPR9Yd
Reposted by LydsG
Poland: "A 28-year-old Somali woman said...she & 11 others were taken to a border station where they asked for asylum, but were required to sign papers they did not understand & were subsequently taken to the border & pushed thru the fence." @lydsg.bsky.social @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2024/12...
Poland: Brutal Pushbacks at Belarus Border
Polish law enforcement is unlawfully, and sometimes violently, forcing people trying to enter the country back to Belarus without considering their protection needs, Human Rights Watch said today. Tho...
www.hrw.org
December 10, 2024 at 9:54 PM
Poland: "A 28-year-old Somali woman said...she & 11 others were taken to a border station where they asked for asylum, but were required to sign papers they did not understand & were subsequently taken to the border & pushed thru the fence." @lydsg.bsky.social @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2024/12...
Nieludzkie i nielegalne wydalanie przez Polskę ludzi szukających bezpieczeństwa jest sprzeczne z jej zobowiązaniami wynikającymi z prawa krajowego i unijnego oraz z podstaw humanitaryzmu -
@hrw
www.hrw.org/pl/news/2024...
@hrw
www.hrw.org/pl/news/2024...
Polska: brutalne pushbacki na granicy z Białorusią
Jak poinformowała dziś organizacja Human Rights Watch, polskie organy porządku publicznego bezprawnie, a czasem z użyciem przemocy, zmuszają osoby próbujące przedostać się do Polski do powrotu na Biał...
www.hrw.org
December 10, 2024 at 8:07 AM
Nieludzkie i nielegalne wydalanie przez Polskę ludzi szukających bezpieczeństwa jest sprzeczne z jej zobowiązaniami wynikającymi z prawa krajowego i unijnego oraz z podstaw humanitaryzmu -
@hrw
www.hrw.org/pl/news/2024...
@hrw
www.hrw.org/pl/news/2024...
Poland’s inhumane and illegal pushbacks of people seeking safety fly in the face of its duties under national and EU law and basic humanity. For @hrw.org - full report here: www.hrw.org/news/2024/12...
Poland: Brutal Pushbacks at Belarus Border
Polish law enforcement is unlawfully, and sometimes violently, forcing people trying to enter the country back to Belarus without considering their protection needs, Human Rights Watch said today. Tho...
www.hrw.org
December 10, 2024 at 6:47 AM
Poland’s inhumane and illegal pushbacks of people seeking safety fly in the face of its duties under national and EU law and basic humanity. For @hrw.org - full report here: www.hrw.org/news/2024/12...
Reposted by LydsG
The European Commission has decided to take Hungary to the EU Court of Justice over the sovereignty protection law, which is a breach of EU law and violates numerous fundamental rights, including the freedom of expression and association. @nikolajnielsen.bsky.social
euobserver.com/Rule%20of%20...
euobserver.com/Rule%20of%20...
NGOs decry 'chilling effect' of Hungarian sovereignty watchdog
A Hungarian state administrative office ostensibly tasked to protect the country's sovereignty continues to crackdown on government critical civil society and media.
euobserver.com
December 9, 2024 at 6:58 AM
The European Commission has decided to take Hungary to the EU Court of Justice over the sovereignty protection law, which is a breach of EU law and violates numerous fundamental rights, including the freedom of expression and association. @nikolajnielsen.bsky.social
euobserver.com/Rule%20of%20...
euobserver.com/Rule%20of%20...