37 2. THE COMMISSIONER FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND HIS DEPUTIES IN HUNGARY AND ABROAD In the development of the compendium collecting the European best practices of decision-making, the Hungarian NHRI undertook a leading role, in joint efforts with the Czech NHRI partner. At the meeting, in addition to the main future goals of ENNHRI, international experts outlined the difficulties and challenges that affect the whole of Europe on the subject of inclusive education; furthermore, they presented the best practices of the individual member states. Representing the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights as a National Human Rights Institution, an expert staff member of the Deputy Commissioner, Ombudsman for Future Generations attended the Geneva-based regional forum of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). The goal of this forum was to allow for a direct, personal sharing of experience and best practices related to the implementation of the UN’s SDG – Sustainable Development Goals, as well as for presenting the chal- Visit paid to the Office by the CRPD delegation – 30 January 2019 lenges. For more details, see Chapter 2.7.3. The Office is regularly represented at the UN Forum on Minority Issues by the Deputy Commissioner for the Rights of National Minorities. The National Human Rights Institutions pay special attention to the observation of human rights obligations set out in the UN Human Rights Treaties and the related additional protocols. From among the UN’s human rights legal documents, Hungary has by now ratified as many as 7 treaties and 9 additional protocols. From these, the CFR Act specifies two: since 1 January 2015, the Commissioner has performed the tasks of the National Preventive Mechanism of the Optional Protocol of the Convention against Torture and other Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT NPM). The activities performed by the Commissioner in this capacity of his in Hungary are described in more detail in Chapter 1.6. During his activity, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights has to pay special attention to supporting, protecting and controlling the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Hungary ratified the Convention in 2007, according to which the states parties have a periodic reporting obligation. The Commissioner helped the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons living with disabilities with a mandate prolonged by resolution No. 35/6 of the United Nations Human Rights Council by sending them professional material several times. Furthermore, he supported the work of the committees and rapporteurs who wished to find out information under the aegis of CRPD monitoring. The delegation of CRPD conducting inquiries in the framework of a special procedure arrived in Hungary in January 2019, in order to gather information on the statutory environment and decision-making mechanisms that ensure the enforcement of the rights and practising the capacity of persons living with disabilities, furthermore, to assess how the rights of persons living with disabilities to independent living and acceptance into a community are enforced, with special regard to the progress of the de-institutionalisation strategy. During the country visit, the experts of the Committee also visited our Office and held detailed coordination talks with our expert colleagues. In the CFR Act, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is not specifically mentioned, but it stipulates that supporting the enforcement of the rights of the child should receive special attention in the Ombudsman’s activity. Therefore the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights participates in the work of several international organisations involved in the rights of the child. Upon entering into office, Commissioner Dr. Ákos Kozma pointed out that he regards the protection of the rights of children and other vulnerable persons as issues of key importance and that he intends to take stronger action in such cases, using the available legal means. The Office regularly cooperates with the UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) National Committee Hungary as well. This organisation is the advocate of children’s rights, and plays an important role in controlling the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted in 1989. The publication titled 30/Thirty – Anniversary Volume of the Ombudsman in Honour of the Convention on the Rights of the Child was compiled and issued by the Office on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the title of the volume, the second “thirty” refers to the fact that the core of the text is constituted by the presentation of a considerable number – 30 in total – of the Ombudsman’s reports published recently in the field of child rights. The thematic chapters present the summaries of the reports by linking them to the individual articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These extracts avoid the legal jargon normally used in the reports, and aim for a reader-friendly and easily understand­able style instead. The individual chapters show the main points of the reports, the steps taken, the results achieved and the follow-up of the cases. Moreover, they indicate the possible points of connection, i.e. subsequent or follow-up inquiries, thus boosting further studies and research. The volume on the rights of the child invites all those interested in children’s rights and the Ombudsman’s activities to read on and think about the topic, whether they are professionals working with or for children, or interested laymen.