Disability organizations in Hungary ask for ombudsman to monitor disability rights compliance

From Caboodle.hu in Hungary:

Thirteen civic organisations representing persons with disabilities sent an open letter to the cabinet and the prime minister, calling for a parliamentary commissioner to monitor compliance with the rights of the disabled, Oct. 1's nationwide daily Nepszava reported.

The letter noted that although Hungary was the first European nation to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities back in June 2007, it has done next to nothing to implement those rights.

One group of advocates for persons with disabilities has established a Hungarian Disability Caucus based on the International Disability Caucus, and, wrote Nepszava, was calling on the government to appoint an independent domestic body to be charged with monitoring implementation of the UN convention. It also called for a parliamentary commissioner - ombudsman - for disability issues, suggesting that the office of the civil rights ombudsman increase its disability advocacy in the meantime.

The civic coalition called on the government to present new plans before November 3, the date of a UN meeting in New York, where convention signatories are scheduled to report on implementation, Nepszava wrote.