NEW YORK (April 20, 2026) — This month, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted formal contributions to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Swaziland and Thailand, as well as a joint submission for Hungary with the Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI).
In their submission on Hungary, HRF and AFI raised concerns over Viktor Orbán’s regime’s systematic erosion of freedom of expression, assembly. Through prolonged emergency powers, restrictive laws, and politically motivated enforcement, Orbán targeted civil society and threatened protest organizers and participants with fines, surveillance, and prosecution. Independent media and journalists have faced smear campaigns, economic pressure, and unlawful surveillance. The weakening of judicial independence has further undermined due process and accountability, enabling rights violations to persist with near-total impunity.
HRF and AFI called on the outgoing government of Hungary to take immediate steps to uphold rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, especially those of artists and the LGBTQ+ community; to uphold the rights of migrants and refugees; and to align domestic laws with international human rights standards.
“Artistic freedom is not an abstract principle, it is a fundamental pillar of a democratic society. When governments shape cultural expression through pressure, policy, or patronage, they narrow the space for independent thought and silence critical voices. Protecting freedom of expression means ensuring that artists can create, question, and challenge without fear of reprisal,” said Sanjay Sethi, co-executive director of AFI. “Hungary’s arts and cultural sector has long been a source of innovation and identity; safeguarding its independence is essential not only for artists, but for the health of public discourse and democratic life itself.”
HRF’s submission on the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland) highlighted the stifling of freedoms of expression, association, and assembly, including through the continued criminalization of peaceful student activism under vague anti-terrorism laws since the widespread pro-democracy protests of 2021. Armed agents have carried out violence, harassment, and intimidation against dissidents, independent journalists, and lawyers in politically sensitive cases, with reports of pro-democracy advocates subjected to ill treatment and torture in detention. Regime critics have been targeted with extrajudicial killings and assassination attempts both inside and outside of the country. Prominent Swazi human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko was killed following reported threats to use mercenaries against pro-democracy advocates. These attacks have contributed to a climate of fear, leading to self-censorship among journalists and concerns for the safety of lawyers.
In its submission on Thailand, HRF stressed the regime’s ongoing suppression of fundamental rights, including restrictions on freedom of expression and judicial harassment of activists. Since the emergence of youth-led pro-democracy movements in 2020, more than 1,900 people have been persecuted for their participation or expression. Prominent activists, such as human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, have been charged and detained for royal defamation under Section 112 of the Criminal Code for their calls for democratic reform of the monarchy. HRF also raised concerns about transnational repression and the regime’s collaboration with neighboring countries to systematically suppress dissent.
“From youth organizers in Thailand to democratic reform advocates in Swaziland, brave individuals are facing severe state-sponsored retaliation for simply demanding their rights,” said HRF Chief Advocacy Officer Roberto González. “These regimes use violence, intimidation, and restrictive legislation to silence their own citizens. It is the time for the international community to stand with these courageous voices.”
HRF’s Tyranny Tracker classifies Hungary and Thailand as hybrid authoritarian regimes and Swaziland as a fully authoritarian regime. These categories are determined using a unique qualitative methodology that evaluates the quality of electoral competition, freedom of dissent, and institutional accountability in countries around the world.
Universal Periodic Review Submission for Hungary
This submission evaluates Hungary’s implementation of recommendations made during its previous UPR as it relates to the current human rights situation in the country, which is characterized by systematic violations of human rights, including the ongoing curtailment of the freedoms of assembly, association, and expression, as well as arbitrary arrests and detentions, and other violations of due process of the law.
Universal Periodic Review Submission for Eswatini (Swaziland)
HRF evaluates Eswatini’s implementation of recommendations made during its previous UPR, as it relates to the current human rights situation in the country, which is characterized by systematic, widespread, and gross violations of human rights.
Universal Periodic Review Submission for the Kingdom of Thailand
HRF evaluates Thailand’s implementation of recommendations made during its previous UPR as it relates to the current human rights situation in the country, which is characterized by systematic, widespread, and gross violations of human rights, including restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, association, and expression.
