In this article you can find out:
- how safe is Hungary;
- what you need to do for your own safety here;
- where you can go if you need help.
How safe is Hungary?
In general, Hungary is a safe and peaceful place. Crime statistics are below the European average and Hungary is ranked 13th safest out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index. . At the same time, there have been concerns raised by human rights organizations about discrimination against minorities in Hungary. Some of the groups that have been identified as particularly vulnerable to discrimination include Roma people, refugees and migrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.
It is important to know that people fleeing war are at increased risk of becoming victims of a crime. That is why it is good to be cautious in certain situations and with people you meet during your travels and your stay.
Unfortunately, women and children are at a higher risk of being victims of human trafficking and gender-based violence, which can include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, harassment, or exploitation.
How do I keep myself and my family safe?
Offline safety tips:
You might want to consider the UNHCR safety tips, presented in a video which you can find here. It shows what precautions you can take and what to look out for. Make sure to
- Be careful with people who ask for 'services' in exchange for help. All services and help from humanitarian organisations are free of charge.
- Do not give out your passport or other documents unless requested by an official public authority (police, military, lawer, doctor..).
- Make digital copies (e.g. photos) of your documents and share them with someone you trust.
- Stay in touch with friends and family you trust and, if you are travelling, let them know where you are.
- Make sure your child knows your full name and contact details, such as your phone number and email address.
- Get information from reliable sources, as there is a lot of fake news: use governmental websites, information of approved organisations (UNHCR, IOM, TASZ, Helsinki Committee, Refugee Info Hungary) or turn to experts.
Online safety tips:
In addition to the above, protecting yourself in the digital space is important to safeguard your personal information, prevent identity theft, and avoid falling prey to online scams or cyberattacks. Scammers, for example, may promise aid by pretending to be a serious organisation while actually they are trying to take your money. Hackers can break into your email account and use your personal information. If you want to protect yourself against all of this, here's what to look out for:
- always use a safe password including numbers and extra signs
- do not give out your password to anybody
- use different passwords on different platforms
- do not give away your bank card details, especially not the CVC-code and the expiry date to those who say they want to support you with money. For sending money to you, organisations only need your bank account, they do not need to have the details of your bank card!
- Against cyberattacks, use a reliable fire wall on your computer.
- Don’t leave your personal information in public Viber, Telegram and WhatsApp groups where anyone can access them.
Where should I go if I need urgent help or if I am a victim of crime?
You may save the telephone numbers below so that you can easily reach them in case of need.
- Police: call 107 or the single European emergency number 112. It is always important to report a crime to the police!
- Ambulance: 104
- Fire brigade: 105
You can call these emergency numbers from a Ukrainian SIM card for free.
In addition to the basic services,there are other support sources available to you depending on the type of harm you possibly experienced. Here is four of the most well-known organisations that can be helpful. (Meanwhile, you can always check the organisations listed on the GBV referral pathways here):
- PATENT: helps abused women in providing them legal aid, integrated client care service (considering their legal, social and psychological needs at once) and a special hotline service for women experiencing legal or ethical problems related to their abortion. English assistance is provided, Ukrainian is also an option. For more information see the website: https://patent.org.hu/en/
phone: +36 70 622 3346
- Hungarian Interchuch Aid: provides safe houses, online counseling, psychological, legal and social counseling, helps survivors of relationship (family) violence and child abuse.
National Helpline:
(+36 1) 289-0056
(+36 30) 828-27-78,
email: segelykozpont@segelyszervezet.hu
(available on weekdays between 9 am and 1 pm)
https://segelyszervezet.hu/azonnali-segitseg/
- Blue Line Children's Crisis Foundation: provides psychological counseling for children and young people. This a wide, fast and free contact service.
phone number:116-111
- NANE: provides help for women and children who survived abuse (domestic violence) with counseling, managing their case and mental health psychologycal support.
Survivors Helpline (anonymous, Mon-Tue-Thu-Fri 6pm-10pm; Wed 12pm-2pm):
Phone number: +36-80-505-101 (free within Hungary)
+36 1 267 4900 (from abroad, not free)
NANE Chat (On Wed 4-6 pm): https://nane.hu/erintetteknek/chatsegely/
Sources:
UNHCR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zrf01K2eBJc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zrf01K2eBJc&t=16s
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/europe-and-central-asia/hungary/
In case you need more information, email us: sos@migaid.org or call us: +36 1 998 9150
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Our articles are validated, but the information provided does not cover every specific case.