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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 BUDAPEST 000098 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR: G/TIP MEGAN HALL, EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE, G FOR 
LAURA PENA, EUR/PGI: JODY BUCKNEBERG, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KFRD KWMN ELAB PGOV MCA PHUM PREF
SMIG, KMCA, EU, HU 
SUBJECT: HUNGARY: 2010 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT 
 
REF: SECSTATE 2094 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  001.2 OF 012 
 
 
The entire cable is sensitive but unclassified; please treat 
accordingly. 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. We believe the Government of Hungary (GOH) fully complies 
with the minimum standards for the elimination of 
trafficking. The GOH has improved its efforts to combat 
trafficking and followed through on its proposals to address 
the problem. Notably, the government improved its support for 
victims, providing $88,500 to NGOs working against 
trafficking in persons (TIP), up from zero financial support 
in 2008. Convictions for traffickers increased in 2009, with 
87 percent receiving a prison sentence. 
 
A new pilot program established in cooperation between the 
Office of Justice and National Police Board established three 
victim support centers to proactively contact and support 
victims of violent crimes. At the end of December, the GOH 
signed a contract with an NGO to open a new shelter for 
trafficking victims. The government referral system, designed 
in cooperation with the GOH and NGO victims' assistance 
centers, continued to work effectively during the year. 
 
Hungary has established a solid anti-TIP framework through 
its National Strategy but now needs to continue implementing 
an action plan with the TIP stakeholders. Hungary needs to 
further support important services for trafficking victims, 
either directly or through NGOs, and increase training 
efforts for law enforcement officials, in particular, outside 
of Budapest. 
 
¶2. Responses below are keyed to questions posed in para 25-35 
of reftel: 
 
----------------------- 
HUNGARY'S TIP SITUATION 
----------------------- 
 
-- A. Key government agencies, NGOs, and international 
organizations provided the majority of the TIP-related 
information to Post. The Ministry of Justice and Law 
Enforcement (MOJ) is the lead government agency on TIP issues 
and is the primary point of contact on all related issues. 
Other government agencies involved were the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Ministry of Social Affairs and 
Labor (MSAL), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). 
Several NGOs provided information related to victims 
assistance, prevention efforts, and government cooperation. 
These NGOs included the International Office of Migration 
(IOM), the Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBA), the Hungarian 
Interchurch Aid (HIA), the Foundation for the Women of 
Hungary (MONA) and the European Roma Rights Center (ERRC). 
Post considers the sources to be generally reliable. HBA has 
requested to remain anonymous. 
 
-- B. Hungary is primarily a country of origin and transit, 
and secondarily a destination country for women trafficked 
for sexual exploitation. There were no official estimates of 
the actual number of victims trafficked from, to, or through 
Hungary. Officials reported that 94 trafficking victims, all 
Hungarian nationals, were identified during 2009 compared to 
the 75 victims reported in 2008. Abroad, MFA consular 
officers identified 28 Hungarian trafficking victims. 
Officials could not clearly establish how many victims were 
internally trafficked as traffickers rotated victims 
internally and internationally. 
 
Internal trafficking for sexual exploitation originates 
primarily from eastern Hungary and terminates either in 
Budapest or along the Austrian border. The impact of 
Hungary's acceptance into the U.S. visa waiver Program on 
November 17,2008 is being closely monitored by government 
officials. MFA reported that three trafficking victims 
requested assistance from Hungarian consulates in the U.S. 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  002.2 OF 012 
 
 
Recent trafficking trends suggest that Hungary is becoming 
less of a destination country and more of a transit country. 
Rising poverty rates have increased the supply of domestic 
victims, thus reducing the demand for international victims. 
Additionally, the implementation of the visa free Schengen 
zone has made it easier for traffickers to traffic external 
victims through Hungary en route to other countries. In 
December 2009, the EU lifted the visa requirements for 
citizens from Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Authorities 
report no increase in trafficking activities resulting from 
this change. Victims were trafficked internationally from 
Hungary to the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark, 
Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, the 
United States (U.S.). The Netherlands and Switzerland are 
increasingly becoming the destination country of choice for 
Hungarian traffickers. In a September news report, Dutch 
police claimed that 20-25 percent of the women in Amsterdam's 
red light district were Hungarian, mainly from the 
northeastern city of Nyiregyhaza. Correspondingly, NGOs 
reported that the trafficking unit in the Zurich police 
department employed a full-time Hungarian-speaking staff 
member to respond to the sharp increase in Hungarian 
trafficking victims following Switzerland's entry into the 
Schengen zone in early 2009. These women and girl 
prostitutes, mainly of Roma ethnicity, were chiefly from 
Eastern Hungary, notably from the towns of Berettyoujfalu and 
Puspokladany. The principal countries of origin for victims 
of trafficking through Hungary were Slovakia, Romania, 
Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, countries of the former Yugoslavia, 
and China. Victims trafficked to Hungary included ethnic 
Hungarians from western Romania for purposes of sexual 
exploitation including male minors. 
 
 
-- C. The only trafficking cases within and from Hungary 
which came to the attention of the authorities were cases of 
trafficking for sexual exploitation. TIP victims in Hungary 
are forced to solicit clients on rural roads, city streets, 
in brothels (disguised as lap-dance bars or massage parlors), 
and in some cases, apartments or private homes. Traffickers 
use threats, force and emotional attachment to ensure 
compliance. Victims are usually housed in apartments owned by 
traffickers or outbuildings on their property. In most cases, 
virtually all victims' earnings (as well as, in cases of 
trafficking to or from Hungary, the victims' travel 
documents) are taken by the trafficker. Many victims are 
enticed through employment ads promising well paying work, 
either legal or illegal, but many are also deceived about 
such false opportunities by personal acquaintances, family 
friends or family members. While government officials comment 
that it is not uncommon for trafficking victims to use 
fraudulent documentation, a significant number travel with 
bona fide documents, making it difficult to identify victims 
as they are unaware of their intended victimization. 
 
-- D. Victims trafficked within and outside Hungary are 
trafficked for sexual exploitation. The majority of 
internally trafficked victims originated in the poorer 
regions of the eastern part of the country. The high-risk 
groups included young, rural women mainly of Roma origin and 
adult female orphans. A large percentage of the victims, 
especially the underage female victims, originate from 
orphanages, state care homes and juvenile correctional 
facilities, either when they leave or are released at age 18, 
but a number are also trafficked while they are still in 
these state institutions and homes, according to NGOs. The 
young women, and sometimes boys, are especially vulnerable to 
exploitation in prostitution and human trafficking. MONA 
reported the ongoing and prevalent phenomenon of underage 
girls in a Budapest correctional facility/state care home, 
were recruited and prostituted by male pimps during the hours 
that they were allowed to leave the facility. In turn, the 
young victims (most between 14 and 16-years-old) recruited 
and prostituted other girls in the home. When orphans leave 
these institutions at age 18 (only some are permitted to stay 
longer in state homes or apartments, under certain conditions 
until age 24), the state gives the orphan a one-time average 
stipend of HUF 500,000 (approximately $2,700). This amount is 
usually less than what is needed for an apartment lease and 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  003.2 OF 012 
 
 
living expenses, but more than what they have seen until 
then. NGOs claimed that this stipend is a danger factor, as 
pimps and traffickers aware of the stipend, seek to take it 
from the newly-released young adults. 
 
There is also a mentorship program available to those over 
the age of 18, but in practice it is not used very often, and 
is not viewed by NGOs as very effective. The orphans usually 
have a lower education level compared to other young adults; 
have very few employment or higher education options; and 
often have a very weak or perhaps nonexistent family or 
support network. As a result, most of these women find 
themselves indigent and homeless in a matter of weeks. Out of 
desperation, they often turn to prostitution and quickly find 
themselves at the mercy of traffickers and/or pimps. 
 
-- E. According to government officials and NGOs the majority 
of traffickers were individuals or small, family-based 
groups. There is evidence that women are sold into 
prostitution by their families. This typically happens in 
very low-income families. The principal recruitment methods 
used by traffickers included employment ads promising well 
paying work for waQresses or dancers published in free 
weekly publications, on the internet, or spread by word of 
mouth, for instance, at discos. Post has no evidence that 
bona fide employment, travel agencies, or marriage brokers 
are fronting for traffickers. However, in two cases where the 
victims were exploited for their labor in the U.S., 
authorities assume that Hungarian employment agencies were 
involved. Some victims know they are being recruited to 
perform illegal work, but do not expect to have to perform 
sexual services. 
 
Other methods included 'boyfriends' that groomed young girls 
and women, creating an emotional attachment and buying them 
gifts, and in the worse cases, raping and threatening them 
before prostituting them. Authorities in Switzerland and 
Italy claim that a high percentage of Hungarian trafficking 
suspects have Roma ethnicity. While government officials 
comment that it is not uncommon for trafficking victims to 
use fraudulent documentation, especially with victims under 
18-years-old, a significant number travel with bona fide 
documents, making it difficult to identify victims as they 
are unaware of their intended victimization. Traffickers 
transported victims in cars, trains, planes and buses. 
Victims are usually housed in apartments owned by traffickers 
or outbuildings on their property. Virtually all victims' 
earnings (as well as the victims' travel documents) are taken 
by the trafficker. 
 
--------------------------------- 
THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-TIP EFFORTS 
--------------------------------- 
 
-- AQhe government recognizes that trafficking in persons 
is a problem in Hungary that requires continued law 
enforcement, prevention, and victim assistance efforts. 
 
-- B. The government's National Strategy Against Trafficking 
in Persons came into force on April 10, 2008, establishing 
the framework of cooperation for government agencies involved 
in trafficking issues. The Ministry of Justice and Law 
Enforcement had the lead on all trafficking issues and 
coordinated the government activities through a State 
Secretary-level national coordinator. Other government 
agencies involved included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
and the Ministry of Social Affairs and LaboQThe National 
Strategy details the Qfficking situation in HunQry and 
lays the groundwork for the formation of a National Action 
Plan. It also describes the principle tasks of the National 
Coordinator position to include the development of an action 
plan and a requirement to maintain routine communication with 
key stakeholders. The inter-ministerial working group invites 
NGO participation to its quarterly meetings. According to 
NGOs, the National Coordinator rarely, if ever, attended the 
working group meetings. The government claimed that the 
implementation of the Action Plan is ongoing, though NGOs 
stated that they are still unaware of the Action Plan. 
 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  004.2 OF 012 
 
 
-- C. The government reported budgetary limitations in 
combating TIP. Government ministries fund TIP programs "out 
of hide" as there was no specific allocation for TIP. During 
the year, the government spent 245.7 million Hungarian 
Forints (HUF) (approximately $1.3 million) on 
anti-trafficking efforts including HUF 229 million 
(approximately $1.2 million) on prosecution and enforcement 
resources to include a special TIP investigation unit, a 
hotline, and crisis centers. In 2009, the government provided 
HUF 16.7 million (approximately $88,359) to TIP NGOs, HUF 4.5 
million (approximately $23,800) for research, HUF 3.2 illion 
(approximately $17,200) for training, HUF 3 million 
(approximately $15,800) for prevention, HUF 6 million 
(approximately $31,700) for shelter support. In 2008, the GOH 
did not support any TIP NGO. Representatives from the 
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported that 
trafficking laws are narrow in scope and fail to fully 
address the TIP problem. They cited the example of pandering, 
saying that the law does not treat it as a TIP crime, thus 
weakening their ability to combat it. The National Assembly 
has considered legislation to include pandering as 'a TIP 
crime for many years without success. NBI cited that the 
absence of any special TIP judges or prosecutors, as well as 
untrained country police officers, as limiting factors. 
 
-- D. The National Strategy established a mechanism for the 
GOH to systematically monitor its anti-trafficking efforts, 
but there was minimal operational evidence. The national 
coordination mechanism requires regular communication and 
meetings with key TIP stakeholders, which occurred 12 times 
during the year. The GOH replied to external queries from 
international organizations and took part in elaborating the 
international and ED documents on trafficking. However, the 
government did not release regular internal reports on 
trafficking. The individual agencies involved in anti-TIP 
efforts operated independently of each other, relying on 
informal communication channels to share information. 
 
-- E. Hungary has a reliable birth registration and 
citizenship process. The citizenship law is based on the 
principles of jus sanguinis, meaning that a person acquires 
citizenship by birth from a parent who is a citizen. Hungary 
also offers a naturalization path to citizenship. Upon 
meeting specific criteria, immigrants to Hungary are entitled 
to a residency permit. It is unknown what percentage of the 
small immigrant community is undocumented, specifically from 
the Chinese and Vietnamese population. 
 
-- F. All investigative and prosecuting agencies were 
integrated into the law enforcement database (ENYUBS), which 
increased data collection. Implemented in late 2008, the 
database tracks TIP and TIP-related crimes in a centralized 
crime database. The database allows police officers across 
Hungary to use it to flag any crime that they believe could 
have a TIP connection. Officials from the NBI Department of 
Trafficking in Human Beings have access to the flagged data 
and can examine it to determine whether there is any 
connection to a TIP offense. 
 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
-- A. In 1999, the crime of TIP was specifically introduced 
into the Hungarian Criminal Code. The definition of TIP was 
modified in 2001 to harmonize with the UN Convention against 
Transnational Organized Crimes. Under paragraph 175/B of the 
Hungarian Criminal Code, any person who sells, purchases, 
conveys, receives another person or exchanges a person for 
another person, including the person, or who recruits, 
transports, houses, hides, or appropriates people for such 
purposes for another party, is guilty of a felony punishable 
by imprisonment not to exceed three years. The basic penalty 
for traffickers is one to five years imprisonment if the 
criminal act is committed for the following purposes: sodomy 
or sexual penetration; to subject the victim to forced labor; 
to the detriment of a person kept in captivity; for the 
unlawful use of the human body; in criminal conspiracy; or in 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  005.2 OF 012 
 
 
a pattern of criminal profiteering. The penalty for these 
offenses increases to two to eight years if it is committed 
to the detriment of a person who is in the care, custody, 
supervision, or treatment of the perpetrator, or if it is 
carried out by force, by the threat of force, by deception, 
or by tormenting the injured person. The penalty increases to 
five to ten years if trafficking involves making illegal 
pornographic material. During this reporting period, the GOH 
amended article 175/B paragraph 5 of the penal code, which 
increased the penalty involving victims under 12 years of 
age, from a minimum of five to fifteen years, to five to 
twenty years up to life imprisonment. Any person who makes 
preparations for TIP is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by 
imprisonment not to exceed two years. The law covers both 
internal and transborder trafficking cases. 
 
The GOH acknowledges that the Hungarian Supreme Court has set 
strict evidentiary requirements for proving the crime of TIP, 
which makes successful prosecutions under paragraph 175/8 
difficult. Prosecutors must prove that a person was bought 
and sold. Unfortunately, prosecutors often try traffickers 
under other criminal statutes, which are related to 
trafficking and easier to prosecute but carry lighter 
sentences, in the hopes of providing a greater chance of 
conviction. The numbers of these "non paragraph 175/B" 
prosecutions are included in the Unified Statistical System 
of Investigations and Prosecutions (ENYUBS). These 
TIP-related statutes may include laws against slavery, 
kidnapping, promotion of prostitution, living on the earnings 
of prostitution, pandering, human smuggling, violation of 
personal freedom, changing the custody of a minor, or 
changing the family status. 
 
-- B. The basic penalty for trafficking people for sexual 
exploitation is imprisonment between one to five years if the 
criminal act is committed for the purpose of sodomy or sexual 
penetration. The penalty increases to two to eight years if 
it is committed to the -detriment of a person who is in the 
care, custody, supervision, or treatment of the perpetrator, 
or if it is carried out by force, by the threat of force, by 
deception, or by tormenting the injured person. The penalty 
increases to five to ten years if trafficking for the purpose 
of making illegal pornographic material is involved. This 
reporting period, the GOH amended article 175/8 paragraph 5 
of the penal code which increased the penalty involving 
victims under 12 years of age, from a minimum of five to 
fifteen, to five to twenty years up to life imprisonment. 
 
-- C. The basic penalty for labor trafficking offenses is 
imprisonment between one to five years if the criminal act 
subjects the victim to forced labor. As with sexual 
exploitation, the penalty increases to two to eight years if 
it is committed to the detriment of a person who is in the 
care, custody, supervision, or treatment of the perpetrator, 
or if it is carried out by force, by the threat of force, by 
deception, or by tormenting the injured person. If the victim 
is under 12 years of age, the penalty is five to fifteen 
years up to life imprisonment. The law provides for criminal 
punishment for both recruiters who engage in recruitment of 
laborers using knowingly fraudulent or deceptive offers that 
result in workers being trafficked in the destination 
country, as well as for employers or labor agents who 
confiscate worker's passports or travel documents switch 
contracts without the workers' consent, or withhold payment 
of salaries to keep workers in a state of service. If the 
perpetrator is a Hungarian citizen he/she can be punished for 
a TIP offense, regardless of the place of the perpetration. 
If the offender is not a Hungarian citizen, Hungarian law 
should be applied. If the perpetration is in another country 
but the offender has connection to Hungary, Hungarian law can 
be also applied pursuant to the Hungarian Criminal Code. The 
GOH did not enact any new legislation on labor trafficking 
offenses since the last TIP report. 
 
-- D. The penalties for rape or forcible sexual assault are 
similar to trafficking penalties. The basic penalty is 
between two to eight years imprisonment. The penalty 
increases to five to twenty years if the victim is under 12, 
and if the victim is under the care of the perpetrator or if 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  006.2 OF 012 
 
 
more than one person has sexual intercourse with the victim 
on the same occasion, knowing about each other's acts. 
 
-- E. The GOH initiated 27 investigations and brought charges 
against 16 persons suspected of TIP crimes in nine cases 
during the year. In one case, authorities seized nearly HUF 
200 million (approximately $1 million) in cash, cars and 
other property from two suspects. According to Ministry of 
Justice and Law Enforcement data, 23 perpetrators were 
convicted for 31 TIP sexual exploitation crimes. Of the 23 
convictions for sexual exploitation, 20 convictions resulted 
in sentences ranging from eight months to nine years in 
prison. Twelve of these convictions resulted in prison 
sentences of less than three years. Three convictions carried 
a three to four year sentence, while the remaining five were 
sentenced to more than five years. Of the 23 total 
convictions, three resulted in suspended sentences. Of these, 
four sentences included additional fines. Fines in three of 
the cases were between HUF 300,000 - HUF 500,000 
(approximately $1,600 - $2,600). In the other case, the fines 
were HUF 4 million (approximately $21,164). There was no 
additional information available to explain the disparity 
between the fines in these four cases. In one case HUF 
351,400 (approximately $1,900) was confiscated. 
 
Compared to 2008, penalties for convicted traffickers were 
more severe in 2009. In 2008, the 16 reported convictions 
resulted in only nine prison sentences with seven cases 
ending in a suspended sentence. Only 56 percent of convicted 
traffickers received a prison sentence in 2008. By contrast, 
in 2009, 20 of the 23 convicted traffickers, or 87 percent, 
received a prison sentence, while only three received 
suspended sentences. Disturbingly, a breakdown of the 
conviction data by county revealed that all nine convictions 
originating in Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg County were sentenced 
to less than three years, with one suspended sentence. This 
county is the easternmost county in Hungary and is reportedly 
also from where many internally trafficked victims originate. 
There is no evidence available to explain why the sentencing 
patterns appear to be less strict in this county relative to 
the rest of the country. 
 
-- F. The GOH conducted regular training for consular 
officers destined for overseas assignments. In cooperation 
with IOM, the GOH elaborated training materials that police 
personnel deliver to their communities. The material 
describes the main methods of recruitment tactics and the 
most common ways of exploitation, including the risks of 
working or staying abroad. The GOH reported that county 
police forces delivered regular training for professionals, 
youth child protection facilities, and churches. However, the 
NBI reported that it did not receive any additional funds 
from the GOH to support TIP training for police officers, 
including victim sensitivity training. 
 
The government provided the HBA and IOM with HUF 3 million 
(approximately $15,800) for six trafficking-prevention 
training sessions for the staff of an unaccompanied minor 
shelter. MONA, the Women's Rights Association, and the 
Association of Street Social Helpers (NANE), held three 
two-day training sessions for police officers and 
law-enforcement officials. The training provided 55 law 
enforcement officials with tools to better combat trafficking 
and assist victims, raise awareness about the connection 
between trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation and 
prostitution, and to increase participants' sensitivity 
towards victims of trafficking and persons in prostitution. 
 
--G. The government cooperates with other nations, mainly the 
Netherlands, on a regular basis as most TIP cases have an 
international component. Most of the cooperation is done with 
information exchanges, however there were three cases 
involving operative cooperation. These cases included Germany 
and Austria. 
 
-- H. The GOH is willing to extradite foreign nationals 
charged with trafficking, unless the suspect may be subject 
to the death penalty. Hungary generally does not approve the 
extradition of its own nationals. The U.S. - Hungary 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  007.2 OF 012 
 
 
extradition treaty, for example, includes a provision that 
allows each country to deny extradition of its own citizens. 
In such cases where citizenship is the only reason for 
denial, the denying country is obligated to conduct a trial 
within its own justice system. During the reporting period, 
authorities extradited eight persons from Hungary on 
trafficking charges, while two persons were extradited from 
abroad to Hungary. 
 
-- I. There is no evidence of government involvement in, or 
tolerance of trafficking, at the local or institutional level. 
 
-- J. There is no evidence that government officials are 
involved in trafficking. 
 
-- K. The GOH investigates, prosecutes, and convicts police 
officers or military troops working in foreign missions. 
Police and military officers committing a crime are 
immediately suspended from office, sent back to Hungary, and 
prosecuted. The foreign mission and the sending country are 
notified without delay. According to the information of the 
Office of the Military Prosecutor there were no criminal 
procedures launched in TIP cases committed by Hungarian 
peacekeeping troops during the reporting period. 
 
-- L. The GOH and multiple NGOs confirmed that there is no 
evidence that Hungary is a destination for child sex tourism. 
However, NGOs and the media reported that Hungary, Budapest 
in particular, became a destination for sex tourism, mainly 
stag parties. Low cost airlines, inexpensive alcohol and 
prostitution services appealed to Western European male 
tourists. In flight magazines on routes to Budapest feature 
strip clubs and 'massage parlors'. 
 
------------------------------------ 
PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
------------------------------------ 
 
-- A. In 2001, Parliament adopted the Witness Protection Act, 
which stipulates protection of victims/witnesses of 
trafficking. The program is available for foreign nationals 
as well. Endangered witnesses can be moved to a protected 
residence within Hungary or to another country and their 
identity can be altered. The state socially and financially 
supports protected persons. No trafficking victims 
participated in the Witness Protection Program in 2009. 
Additionally, Parliament adopted the Act on Entry and Stay of 
Third Country Nationals (Act No. 2 which came into force on 
July 1, 2007. This act grants foreign trafficking victims a 
reflection period of one month to decide whether they will 
cooperate with authorities. During this period, victims are 
entitled to a temporary residence permit and may only be 
expelled from the country if their continued residence 
presents a serious threat to national security, public 
security, or public policy. After the expiry of the 
reflection period, if they decide to cooperate with 
authorities, they are entitled to a residence permit valid 
for six months. The government's implementing decree (No. 
114/2007) ensures that victims of trafficking have access to 
accommodation, health care, and various forms of financial 
support during their period of legal stay in the country. 
Reportedly, no trafficking victims applied for temporary 
residence permits. 
 
Several NGOs expressed concern that the government's legal 
interpretation of "victim" is often times too narrow to 
include victims of trafficking, thus making it difficult for 
these organizations to secure government funding. NGOs also 
complained that the 30 day reflection period is not long 
enough for victims to work through the trauma and decide to 
testify. Hungarian victims are not granted a reflection 
period, but must decide right away if they will cooperate. No 
trafficking case is tried without the victim's testimony. 
 
-- B. There were approximately 60 regional and local victim 
protection offices and 11 regional crisis centers where 
trafficking victims could receive short-term psychological, 
social, and legal assistance. The MSAL supports an assistance 
hotline (the National Crisis Management and Information 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  008.2 OF 012 
 
 
Telephone Services - OKIT). Among other target groups, this 
hotline also provides assistance to victims of trafficking in 
the form of emotional support and referral to the shelter(s) 
for victims of trafficking. Child TIP victims are placed in 
state care juvenile facilities, when circumstances do not 
allow them to return to their families. There are currently 
two TIP adult victim care facilities operating in Hungary. 
One shelter has been owned and operated by an NGO, HBA, since 
¶2005. The government supported HBA's shelter operations in 
2007, providing HUF 13 million (approximately $74,901 at that 
time). During the reporting period, the NGO operated the 
shelter exclusively with private donations. In 2009, the HBA 
shelter provided assistance to 45 trafficking victims during 
the reporting period, of which nine were referred by the 
crisis hotline and two were referred by NBI, but the majority 
from the crisis hotline. The six bed facility offers a range 
of services to victims, including legal, medical, and 
psychological assistance, as well as full room and board, 
repatriation assistance for third country nationals, and 
reintegration services. Trafficking victims are permitted to 
stay in the facility for up to six months, though some stay 
longer. The HBA also provides additional assistance to the 
victims to make the transition out of the facility. Options 
include a transfer to another, non-trafficking victim 
facility, repatriation to their country of origin, transfer 
to another shelter in the country of origin, or assistance 
with gaining legal residence in Hungary. 
 
The second shelter is government funded. On December 30, the 
government signed an initial and renewable six-month contract 
valued at HUF 6 million (approximately $31,700) with the NGO, 
HIA, to support a shelter exclusively for trafficking 
victims. The six-person capacity shelter provides legal, 
medical, psychological and social services to victims. Due to 
limited funding, the new shelter will only accept Hungarian 
victims returning to Hungary from abroad, or Hungarian 
victims trafficked internally within Hungary. 
 
Some NGOs expressed concern that neither the shelters, nor 
the government, share information as to what services the 
shelters provide, what kind of training their staff receives, 
general data on victims such as the number of victims 
assisted, from where or to they were trafficked. Some TIP 
NGOs that refer victims to the shelters have almost no 
information about what will happen to the victims once they 
arrive. Some argue that data on victims and their traffickers 
would help devise better policies and programs to combat 
trafficking and protect victims. 
 
Some NGOs criticized the government for the lack of 
transparency in contracting for shelter services in 2009, as 
it did not release any public tender for support to run a 
shelter. 
 
-- C. All government funding comes from the federal budget 
but may be administered at the county level. The GOH, 
directly and indirectly, provides trafficking victims with 
access to legal, medical, or psychological services. In 
October 2009, the 2005 Crime Victim Support and State 
Compensation Act was amended easing the application process 
and requirements. Under this act, Crime victims can receive 
compensation (lump sum or allotments) and psychological 
services. In 2009, no TIP victims applied for this benefit. 
MSAL operated a crisis hotline, which was successful in 
directing trafficking victims to the appropriate service 
providers. The hotline, funded entirely by the MSAL, employed 
a staff of 12 operators and one director position. Several 
other NGOs reported that the crisis hotline operated 
successfully and effectively during the year. 
 
Although the government offers temporary residency, 
short-term relief from deportation, and shelter to 
trafficking victims who cooperated with police and 
prosecutors, authorities claim that no one applied or 
received such support. During the year, the government 
allocated a total of 245.7 million forints (approximately 
$1.3 million) to anti-trafficking efforts including: HUF 70 
million (approximately $370,370) to trafficking victim 
assistance programs, HUF 4.5 million (approximately $23,800) 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  009.2 OF 012 
 
 
for research, HUF 3.2 million (approximately $17,200) for 
training, HUF 3 million (approximately $15,800) for 
prevention, HUF 6 million (approximately $31,700) for shelter 
support, and HUF 157 million (approximately $829,630) on 
prosecution and enforcement resources to include the special 
trafficking in persons investigation unit. 
 
The Office of Justice Victim Support Service ran a pilot 
program from September to December with the National Police 
Board and three county victim support service centers. The 
aim of this pilot project was to proactively contact and 
support more victims of violent and deliberate crimes. When 
the police take a victim's statement, they request written 
permission to share the victim's personal data with the 
victim support service, which then immediately contacts the 
victim. If the pilot program proves effective, the government 
plans to broaden the program to the whole country. 
 
-- D. The Act on Entry and Stay of Third Country Nationals 
(Act No.2) described above (para. A) provides foreign 
trafficking victims certain rights that facilitate their stay 
in Hungary. No foreign victims were identified in 2009. 
 
-- E. The GOH did not directly provide longer-term housing 
benefits to victims, or other resources to assist victims to 
rebuild their lives. The GOH provided financial support to 
NGOs that delivered such services. 
 
-- F. A formal victim referral program process, with an 
emphasis on victim protection, has been in place since 2005. 
According to one NGO, the referral system is functioning 
well. NGOs reported that courts and prosecutors' offices use 
the referral program to their satisfaction. The police 
updated their directive on counter-trafficking measures in 
2007, which provides guidance to all policemen on how to 
appropriately handle trafficking cases. The guidance places a 
special emphasis on victim identification, international 
coordination, and cooperation with NGOs. 
 
-- G. There are no figures or estimates of the actual number 
of trafficking victims in Hungary. However, 94 trafficking 
victims were identified during the reporting period. Of 
these, two were referred by NBI, and nine by the GOH-operated 
crisis hotline, to the victims' assistance NGO for follow-up. 
Law enforcement officials referred two victims to care 
facilities. The GOH provided assistance to any trafficking 
victims through government-funded assistance programs during 
the year (see para C above). 
 
-- H. NGOs reported that law enforcement officials are 
successfully proactive at identifying possible trafficking 
victims. Police officers receive a manual on TIP explaining 
the causes of victimization, interrogation methods for the 
victim-witness, and specific investigation techniques and 
tactics. The manual was compiled in the framework of a 
regional training program of the Stability Pact for South 
Eastern Europe and the International Center for Migration 
policy Development (ICMPD) on implementation of the 
regulations of Palermo Protocol. Hungarian authorities do not 
register persons engaged in prostitution. As a result, there 
is no formal mechanism in place to screen for trafficking 
victims among this population. 
 
-- I. It is not GOH policy to jail, detain, fine, or deport 
victims of trafficking, and there were no reports that any of 
these occurred during the reporting year. According to both 
the GOH and NGOs, the directive on counter-trafficking 
measures from the Hungarian National Police to all police 
officers across the country has had a positive effect on the 
treatment and identification of trafficking victims. 
 
-- J. The GOH officially encourages victims to assist in the 
investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases. 
Twenty-seven victims assisted in the GOH's investigations, 
resulting in charges against 16 persons suspected of TIP 
crimes during the year. In 2001, Hungary adopted its Act on 
Witness Protection. In theory, the program grants physical 
protection to witnesses. The program is available to victims 
of trafficking, provided they are willing to testify in a 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  010.2 OF 012 
 
 
court of law. 
 
-- K. The GOH conducts regular training sessions for consular 
officers to raise their awareness about potential TIP victims 
they may encounter while posted abroad. The training program, 
developed by the MFA's Consular Department and I0M, is 
mandatory for all Hungarian consuls and is part of the manual 
issued to all consular officers. The training also serves as 
a model for other Foreign Ministries in the region. In 2009, 
consular officers identified 28 Hungarian trafficking 
victims: six in Germany; six in Italy; six in Austria; three 
in the United States; two in the United Kingdom; two in 
Spain; one in Greece; one in South Africa; and, one in 
Switzerland. In the two U.S. cases the victims were employed 
as housekeepers and au-pairs/babysitters. In all cases, the 
MFA worked with local victim assistance organizations and 
referred many of the victims directly to those agencies for 
assistance. 
 
-- L. Repatriated nationals who are trafficking victims have 
access to the range of social services available to all 
Hungarians. Once repatriated, the GOH does not directly 
provide any additional assistance to these victims. Instead, 
the victims are normally referred to the NGO-operated victim 
care facilities for follow-up. 
 
-- M. The most active organization concerned with trafficking 
is IOM. Since 1999, IOM has conducted the most in-depth 
training on trafficking in Hungary. In 2009, IOM and the GOH 
carried out a prevention campaign and training workers at an 
unaccompanied minor shelter. IOM also refers Hungarian 
victims identified by their offices outside of Hungary to the 
victims' care facility in Budapest. 
 
The HBA has done considerable street-level work, operates a 
victims' shelter, and provides counseling services to 
trafficking victims and prostitutes, as well as international 
relief services. The NGO finances trafficking awareness 
programs for its own social workers and experts. 
 
Women United Against Violence (NANE) is a small, but active, 
NGO. Although NANE's primary focus is on violence against 
women, it provides counseling to trafficking and domestic 
violence victims and promotes public awareness of these 
issues. 
 
The Foundation for the Women of Hungary (MONA) primarily 
focuses on women's empowerment, it lead a project to 
establish inter-professional support services in Hungary to 
promote the fight against trafficking in women, prostitution, 
and violence against women. The project aims to establish 
cooperation between the governmental authorities for a more 
appropriate legal policy by organizing training for 
policemen, and forums for the target groups to foster 
professional cooperation. 
 
The European Roma Rights Center (ERRC) is an international 
public interest law organization engaging in a range of 
activities aimed at combating anti-Romani racism and human 
rights abuse of Roma. Currently they are researching regional 
trafficking trends among the Roma. 
 
The Cordelia Foundation is a small NG providing relief to 
victims of torture and organized crime. They also work on 
refugee assistance. 
 
The Hungarian Prostitute Interest Association (HPIA) is a 
small but active NGO that seeks to raise government awareness 
on the plight of prostitutes. HPIA conducts surveys on the 
working conditions of street prostitutes, rehabilitates 
prostitutes, and counsels them on how to avoid being 
victimized by traffickers. 
 
---------- 
PREVENTION 
---------- 
 
-- A. The MOJ and the Hungarian National Police, in 
cooperation with IOM and the Hungarian Oil Company Ltd. (MOL) 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  011.2 OF 012 
 
 
launched a demand-side campaign from March to June 2009. The 
three month campaign employed press conferences, radio 
interviews, an article in "Cop" magazine, and posters placed 
in 100 gas station restrooms to reach the target audience of 
25-45 year old males. The posters which showed a bed with 
money on it and handcuffs, stated "You can get out of it, but 
can she?" was intended to get the audience to consider how 
hiring a prostitute could support the trafficking industry. 
The slogan stressed the lack of choice that TIP victims have. 
Other 'giveaways' like badge holders and coasters with the 
slogan and the MOJ website address on them were distributed 
to members of the target group. Additionally, IOM developed 
anti-demand related information that was posted on the MOJ 
website. MOJ stated that nearly 10,000 target group members 
received the campaign materials and the on-line information 
material was downloaded 4,000 times. MOJ financed the 
campaign with HUF 3 million (approximately $15,800). Some 
NGOs complained that the campaign was not visible enough and 
that the message was not clearly about TIP victims. 
Additionally, the government funded IOM to provide a 
six-session trafficking prevention training course to shelter 
staff at the unaccompanied minor shelter. 
 
-- B. Since December 21, 2007, Hungary has been a member of 
the Schengen zone and continues to place a high importance on 
monitoring its borders. A wide range of modern techniques are 
in place to detect illegal border crossings (such as sensors, 
infra-red cameras, etc). Immigration and emigration patterns 
are monitored and law enforcement agencies pay special 
attention to cases where TIP may occur during the entrance 
procedure at the borders. NNI police officials noted however, 
that the removal of border controls between Hungary and its 
neighboring Schengen countries has reduced the number of 
immigration officials screening potential victims and 
offenders as they cross these borders. 
 
-- C. The GOH established a formal mechanism to facilitate 
communication between the key TIP stakeholders upon adopting 
the National Strategy on April 10, 2008. In practice however, 
this mechanism is minimally used. Though the working group 
meets quarterly and invites NGO participation, NGOs reported 
expressed their disappointment in the lack of available data 
from the government. Additionally, the GOH did not establish 
an internet group for stakeholders to share information as 
planned. 
 
The multi-agency working group, which also incorporated NGOs 
and IOs, met quarterly The US-Hungary bilateral working 
group, which previously existed to provide information to for 
the TIP Report, was dissolved with the adoption of the 
National Strategy. 
 
-- D. The National Strategy laid the foundation for the 
creation of a National Action Plan, setting an implementation 
deadline of August 31, 2008. However, at the end of the 
reporting year, MOJ stated that the Action Plan was still 
being developed, with no clear indication of implementation. 
 
-- E: Aside from the gas station poster campaign, there were 
no reports that the GOH had taken any measures during the 
reporting period to reduce the demand for commercial sex 
acts. However, in 2007 Parliament amended the Hungarian 
Criminal Code to stipulate that any person who pays for 
sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 18 is 
guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment up to three 
years. 
 
-- F. Law enforcement agencies have no knowledge of Hungarian 
nationals participating in international sex tourism. The 
Hungarian Criminal Code stipulates that Hungarian law shall 
be applied to crimes committed in Hungary, as well as to any 
conduct of Hungarian citizens abroad, which are deemed 
criminal in accordance with Hungarian law. Hungarian 
nationals can be prosecuted on the basis of this article if 
they commit a criminal offense abroad. 
 
-- G. An assessment regarding Hungary's efforts to ensure 
that its troops deployed abroad for international 
peacekeeping missions do not engage in or facilitate 
 
BUDAPEST 00000098  012.2 OF 012 
 
 
trafficking or exploit trafficking victims was unavailable 
for this reporting period. According to the information of 
the Office of the Military Prosecutor there was no criminal 
procedures launched in TIP cases committed by Hungarian 
peacekeeping troops. 
 
------------ 
PARTNERSHIPS 
------------ 
 
-- A. Both the NBI and the Hungarian Consular Service 
established good cooperation with their partner authorities 
in Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Italy. As 
mentioned previously, the government relies heavily on the 
expertise and services provided by IOM and the two 
faith-based organizations managing trafficking victim 
shelters. 
 
-- B. The government currently exchanges information in 
investigations and in consular cases with other countries, 
principally with Austria, Italy, The Netherlands, 
Switzerland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Spain, 
Germany, Slovenia France, Belgium and the United  Kingdom. 
Though the government participates in the EU-funded 
transnational project on the fight against trafficking in 
human beings, they do not provide financial assistance. 
 
-------------- 
CHILD SOLDIERS 
-------------- 
 
There were no reports of child soldiers in Hungary. 
 
 
-------- 
TIP HERO 
-------- 
 
¶3. Post nominates Deputy Head of Department for Gender 
Equality of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Mrs. 
Iren Duani Adam as the 2010 TIP Hero.  Mrs. Adam has 
demonstrated outstanding commitment and dedication to 
improving victim's assistance services provided by the 
government of Hungary.  She has been an active member of the 
TIP working group since 2005 and has proposed and carried out 
several key TIP initiatives. Due to her initiative MSAL 
signed an agreement to open the first TIP shelter in Hungary 
in 2005.  That same year, she orchestrated the operations for 
the crisis hotline, which refers TIP victims to assistance 
centers. For the past several years, Mrs. Adam has organized 
several training opportunities for professionals assisting 
TIP victims.  She continues to work closely with NGOs to 
improve TIP victim assistance. In 2009 she campaigned for and 
was granted funding to establish a second TIP victim shelter, 
managed by the NGO, Hungarian Interchurch Aid. In addition to 
her achievements, Mrs. Adam continues to provided extensive 
information every year to supplement the annual TIP report. 
 
Iren Duani Adam has been vetted through the Consular Lookout 
and Support System (CLASS).  No derogatory information about 
her was returned. 
 
--------------------- 
POST POINT OF CONTACT 
--------------------- 
 
¶4. Post's POC for trafficking is Christina Hernandez, phone: 
 36 475-4598, fax:  36 475-4027. The number of hours spent in 
preparation of the TIP report cable includes the following: 
FS-03 Christina Hernandez- drafter 80 hours, FS-03 Jon 
Martinson- reviewer 1 hour, FS-01 Paul O'Friel- reviewer 2 
hours, DCM Jeffrey Levine- reviewer 2 hours, AMB Eleni 
Kounalakis- reviewer 1 hour. 
KOUNALAKIS