Spokesperson: Government has zero tolerance for all forms of violence against women

Eszter Vitályos said all decisions of the past year rejecting or terminating an investigation must be reassessed.

Government spokesperson Eszter Vitályos said the Hungarian government maintains zero tolerance for all forms of violence against women, adding that a review of shortcomings in a recent case ordered by the national police chief had the full support of the government.

Vitályos said all decisions of the past year rejecting or terminating an investigation must be reassessed.

She said preventing domestic violence and protecting women was “our shared responsibility”. “If abuse is witnessed, we mustn’t stay silent,” she added.

The spokesperson referred to a “recent tragedy” which had “highlighted shortcomings” in the response of the authorities.

Police must be trained to be more sensitive to the needs of victims of abuse, she said, adding they must handle cases of domestic violence with “even greater empathy and professionalism”.

Vitalyos said the government was working to ensure that no one “is stranded without effective help”.

“Domestic violence is not a private matter,” she said.