33 2. THE COMMISSIONER FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND HIS DEPUTIES IN HUNGARY AND ABROAD 2.1. P UBLIC RELATIONS: KEY EVENTS OF THE YEAR I n 2019, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights paid special attention to the protection of the rights of the most vulnerable social groups, such as children, the elderly, persons living with dis­ abilities, the homeless, detainees, as well as to the protection of rights within the competence of the Deputy Commissioners, such as the right to a healthy environment and the rights of national minorities living in Hungary. The Commissioner for Fundamental Rights has always acted in defense of the rights of disadvantaged persons and those in a difficult situation with due responsibility and by relying on an approach and means that are adjusted to the specific features of the rights of vulnerable persons and persons in need. Dr. Ákos Kozma receives the UNICEF Youth Ambassadors at the Office – 20 November 2019 The enforcement of the fundamental rights of psychiatric patients has for long been one of the focal points of the inquiries conducted by the Ombudsman. In 2017, the Ombudsman investigated into the functioning of the judicial inspection related to psychiatric care as one of the key elements of the guarantee system serving the enforcement of fundamental rights. Continuing this practice, in 2019, the Commissioner reviewed the operation of the practice of the judicial inspection related to active in-patient child and adolescent psychiatric care. 2.2. C ULTURAL, LEGAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION EVENTS AT THE OFFICE E ver since its foundation, the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights has considered it a priority to conduct In 2018, the Commissioner contacted all the in-patient child and ad- human rights-related scientific, educational and awareness-rais- olescent psychiatry departments of the Hungarian hospitals in order ing activities, to promote and popularise the Ombudsman’s efforts to learn about their practices related to the above-mentioned statutory as widely as possible, as well as to ensure the further professional requirements. With a view to reviewing the regulation of the judicial training of students, professionals and researchers especially re- inspection related to active in-patient child and adolescent psychiat- ceptive to human rights. ric care as a fundamental rights-related guarantee, the Office hosted Trainee programme a roundtable discussion on 25 April 2019. In 2019, for the tenth occasion already, the Office – under a coThe 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention operation agreement – provided an opportunity to the students on the Rights of the Child is celebrated all over the world of the faculties of law of several universities to participate in on 20 November, and at the same time, this is the Universal a professional traineeship. The six-week, two-part traineeship Children’s Day. On this occasion, UNICEF Hungary organised programme lasted from 4 February to 14 March 2019. In the its Voices of Children campaign for the third time, as part of first two weeks, the operation of the institution was presented which the Youth Ambassadors of UNICEF visited the Office at a theoretical training session held by the staff members of the on 20 November 2019. During the visit, they were given the Office. This was followed by a four-week practice when the train- opportunity to meet the Commissioner for Fundamental ees had an opportunity to get involved in the work of the Office, Rights in person and to submit three complaints that they and mentored by the experts of the individual departments, they formulated, which they could then discuss with the staff took their share in exploring, analysing and preparing the back- members of the Office. After this, the Commissioner held an grounds of the individual cases. The students had the chance to opening speech at the Aquarium Club, before the roundtable acquire important competences at a workplace and in a position discussion titled “How old? 30! For the anniversary of the that were in synch with their studies, by linking their theoretical Hungarian Ombudsman institution and the UN Convention and practical knowledge. on the Rights of the Child”.