"The people who need it most do not have access to free legal aid provided by the state," the statement said.

Amnesty's recent research has shown "how the current system of legal aid increases the vulnerability of those that would need it most, while some effort and relatively little money could remove a massive curbing of rights," the statement said.

The state has a duty to champion people's fundamental right to legal representation and a fair process, as well as to ensure professional legal advice free of charge for people who cannot pay for such services, AIH said.

Under Hungarian law, only people under a net monthly income of 28,500 forints (EUR 80) if they live in a family, or 42,750 forints if they are single are entitled to free legal aid, AIH said. Those brackets have not changed since 2008, the statement added.

"Hundreds of thousands are ineligible for state legal aid who then cannot fight for their unemployment benefit, custody of their child, or appeal against a guardianship order," the statement said.

Further, many are not aware they may be eligible and "won't even attempt to promote their rights". Finding a government office, filling forms, understanding the procedures often prove too difficult, while in some cases the clerks are not helpful, the statement said.

"The current system simply does not work. It is unable to provide free legal aid to those that need it most, which increases existing inequalities impacting the poor, the disabled, or people with other disadvantages," the statement said.

Amnesty has proposed that the current cap of eligibility should be raised to the minimum wage, and added that using between 800 million - one billion forints a year the system could be made available to another 1.5 million people, eight times the current figure.

"Apart from raising the eligibility threshold the system also calls for a full revision," the statement said.

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.

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