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Resisting Ill Democracies in Croatia, Hungary, and Poland: Join us for the presentation of a case study showing common trends and how illiberal governments put human rights and the rule of law at risk.

Despite two years of calls from key international mechanisms and experts, the Polish authorities continue to rebuff criticism and implement measures impeding human rights, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary.

From emerging democracies in transition, illiberal governments have rapidly transformed Hungary and Poland into ill democracies, have attempted to do so in Croatia, and are slowly and carefully entertaining an illiberal platform in Serbia, according to the new case study Resisting Ill Democracies in Europe.

“The reform undertaken by the Government, presented as a cure, appears to be worse than the disease affecting the Polish judiciary” declared the UN expert on the independence of the judiciary, concluding his visit to Poland last week.

“If you are the ruling party and you have the absolute majority, you have to stick to the rule of law.”

Poland has accepted many of the recommendations put forward as part of its human rights review at the United Nations. It remains to be seen whether it will implement them.

Polish President, Andrzej Duda, has announced that he will veto controversial amendments that would effectively terminate the independence of the country’s Supreme Court, according to human rights organisations and legal experts.

In an open letter to the President, Andrzej Duda, 52 civil society organisations call on him to veto the acts undermining judicial power in Poland.

Discover how we, the Human Rights Houses and Human Rights House Foundation, protected, empowered, and supported human rights defenders and advanced human rights in 2016.