The open letter seen by MTI on Wednesday said that on December 10, 2025, law enforcement agencies appeared at child protection institutions, and penal enforcement experts also visited youth offender institutions.

Since then, employees have been in complete uncertainty, as they do not know who the government official responsible for the sector is, what will happen to them, and have received no information on this or other professional issues.

The union highlighted that the flawed child abuse procedure regulations have led to a high number of suspensions and dismissals, often unjustifiably, while investigations are slow.

Many staff are leaving the profession, "many are fleeing into sick leave", and the selection process for the few applicants is extremely slow, they said.

The union lamented staffing levels were below the requirements for basic care in youth offender institutions, which are "on the brink of collapse".

The union also noted that the uncertainty has increased the rate of runaways among children. Additionally, under the penal enforcement authority, children are being transferred between institutions, disrupting their studies, educational processes, established relationships with educators and peers, and making it more difficult to maintain family contacts.

"Immediate, non-negotiable government intervention is needed! We expect measures to ensure greater security for both children and employees! The well-being of children is in all our interests," the open letter said.

The PSZ child protection section also noted in the letter that on May 16, Education and Child Affairs Minister Judit Lannert attended the PSZ congress in person, and on June 25, Zsuzsanna Naderi, the state secretary for vocational training and adult education, held a professional consultation with PSZ representatives.

On May 31, the Child Rights Civil Coalition submitted a comprehensive child rights reform proposal to Kriszta Bodis, the government commissioner for social policy, which included the important conclusion that youth offender institution education must be immediately transferred from penal enforcement to child protection.

Photo: Pixabay

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

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