GOOD NEWS FROM HUNGARY! BUT OUR WORK ISN’T OVER

Hi Andy, it’s Lydia Gall, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.

In a moment I’m going to share an important update from Hungary, but before I dive in, can I ask you to make a gift now to help researchers like me document abuse, expose the truth and defend human rights worldwide?

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In April, after 16 years of rights-abusive rule, Hungarians went to the polls and voted the Orbán government out.

This is a major victory for Hungary, for the Hungarian people, for democracy and for those who believe in human rights and the rule of law. And it’s a warning to authoritarian and would-be authoritarian leaders everywhere that change is possible.

This moment is not the result of one individual or one movement alone. It is the culmination of years of tireless, meticulous work by organizations like Human Rights Watch and researchers like me. Over the past 15+ years, we have documented:

The steady erosion of the rule of law and human rights in Hungary
The criminalization and harassment of civil society  
The demonization of LGBT people through discriminatory laws
The increasingly hostile environment for independent journalists

But this is only a snapshot of what we have achieved together – and while this is a new chapter for Hungarians, our work does not end here. This is where I turn to you, Andy.

Will you please make a gift now so we can continue our work on the ground monitoring how the incoming Hungarian government pursues reform, ensuring that changes are carried out in line with its human rights obligations?

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Having worked in Hungary for well over a decade, this moment is deeply emotional for me – thank you so much for your support.

I look forward to sharing more updates as we enter this new phase, one that we hope will bring a more rights-respecting and democratic Hungary.

To a better Hungary,

Lydia Gall
Senior Researcher, Europe and Central Asia
Human Rights Watch

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