The Law Firm Network (LFN) has commended the Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC) for its wide-ranging civil society activities and legal aid to people who would otherwise have no chance of legal representation. Márta Pardavi, co-chair of the HHC, received the award from the LFN and member firm Szecskay Attorneys at Law in an official ceremony on 15 October, 2022, as part of the Law Firm Network annual conference in Budapest, Hungary.
“For decades, this courageous group of Hungarian lawyers and other experts have been working tirelessly to ensure the full and complete protection of the rights of vulnerable people in Hungary. This is a very honourable commitment. Many people of various faith, nationality, religion, and gender need the support, knowledge and experience of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee. Our deep respect goes to the extraordinary work of this human rights organisation,” said András Szecskay, Managing Partner at Szecskay Attorneys at Law.
Szecskay Attorneys at Law, the Hungarian affiliate of the LFN, has been closely cooperating with the HHC since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The firm has supported the efforts of the organization in mobilising Hungarian lawyers to support Ukrainian refugees with pro bono work. The HHC is the main provider of legal assistance to Ukrainian refugees in Hungary.
“The activities of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee range from the protection of the rule of law to addressing issues in the criminal justice system, detention and asylum law. These seemingly distant areas of work are connected by human rights. We are called ‘human rights defenders’ for good reason. At the same time, legal aid is really just one way to help our vulnerable clients in difficult situations,” summarized Márta Pardavi.
The Law Firm Network was founded in 1989 and is a non-exclusive association of independent law firms with presence in over 52 countries around the world. For the second year in a row the network has awarded a civil society organization for its extraordinary legal commitment and contribution to the society in the host country of its annual conference.
