Statement of Solidarity for the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

The ACLU is the oldest and largest domestic human rights organization in the United States. Our mission is to protect the rights of all individuals in the United States, regardless of race, creed, gender, ethnicity, political viewpoint or sexual orientation. While the ACLU as a matter of policy does not express opinions on human rights matters outside of the United States, the ACLU is pleased to make this statement of solidarity on behalf of our sister organization, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (the HCLU). We understand from the HCLU that the credibility and funding of Hungarian human rights organizations are being attacked by government officials in that country. From our own experience in the United States, we believe that a dynamic and independent civil society plays a fundamental role in a democratic nation, as it is one of the key checks and balances to government power and abuse. Any harassment or criticism of Hungarian human rights organizations like the HCLU threaten the vitality of democracy and the critical need for divergent voices to be heard. We stand in solidarity with the Hungarian NGOs and believe that an attack on human rights organizations anywhere is an attack on human rights organizations everywhere.