U.S. Department of State 2002 Trafficking in Persons Report - Hungary

Hungary (Tier 2)

Hungary is a transit country for trafficking victims, and to a lesser extent a source and destination country. Women and girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation mostly from Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Yugoslavia, and China to and through Hungary to Austria, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Switzerland and the United States. Men trafficked for forced labor through Hungary to European Union countries come from Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Government of Hungary does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Hungary's laws criminalize trafficking in persons and kidnapping. The government investigated and prosecuted an increased number of trafficking cases in 2001. Police in eastern Hungary believe the traffickers are better equipped than law enforcement officials. Allegedly police and immigration officials often refuse to accept reports of kidnapping of young women. Law enforcement authorities contend that the kidnappings are difficult to prosecute without eyewitness testimony and victims often refuse to testify. Corruption of border officials is a problem, although border guards have been arrested for supporting human smugglers. Regarding protection, the government provides only limited assistance to trafficking victims. In theory, assistance with temporary resident status, short-term relief from deportation, and shelter assistance are available to trafficking victims who cooperate with police and prosecutors. There are, however, no documented cases of such assistance having been rendered. Allegedly police and immigration officials often treat trafficking victims as criminals. Hungarian consular officials are not empowered to provide any legal or financial assistance to Hungarian victims abroad. To prevent trafficking, the government works with an international NGO and a women's rights organization conducting preventive programs for teenagers in schools. The government provides some support through the public fund "For a Safe Hungary" to a women's rights organization that runs a hotline which provides information on types of trafficking-associated advertisements and situations young women should avoid. The government has established a Victim Protection Office and a victim protection fund, and has posted brochures on victim protection in every police station. The government provides some continuing financial assistance to prevention programs. The government has consulted with NGOs to provide anti-trafficking sensitivity training to police, and has conducted training of government officials in techniques to identify and combat trafficking.