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Can Disability Rights Flourish in Backsliding Democracies? – The Case of Hungary
Title / Series / Name
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Pages
Authors
Editors
Keywords
Central and Eastern Europe
Hungary
democratic erosion
disability advocacy
disability movement
human rights
General Social Sciences
Hungary
democratic erosion
disability advocacy
disability movement
human rights
General Social Sciences
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/27286
Abstract
Disability advocacy organisations face challenges in eroding democracies. Populist governments often employ strategies to curb the operation of organisations critical towards their policies. This study explored how the disability movement can advocate for human rights in an eroding democracy. Data was collected in Hungary, a ‘poster child’ of illiberalism, covering the last 25 years. Results show that the space for disability rights advocacy has been shrinking for the Hungarian disability movement. Opportunities to influence and monitor public policy-making have been diminishing. Disability advocacy organisations have been less included in consultations and decisions about policies affecting disabled people. Due to fear of repercussions, disability movement actors often employ self-censorship when talking publicly. The meaning of human rights and civil society have changed in the public discourse. Legal obligations to consult with the disability movement, existing human rights laws, and statutory human rights bodies seem less and less effective amid eroding democratic structures. The disability movement has become fractured.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2024
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.16993/sjdr.1053