"Be Grateful You Can Hold Them – Some Babies Are Held by No One" Campaign for Babies Left in Hospitals

The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) child protection programme highlights severe, systemic failings within the child protection system—with a particular focus on infants unlawfully separated from their families and those kept in hospitals without medical necessity. The programme aims to empower affected families by increasing legal awareness, providing direct legal assistance, and exerting social and political pressure to drive essential professional reforms.

As part of its legal aid initiatives, the HCLU has supported numerous individual cases while launching a high-profile public campaign featuring personal stories, open letters, and petitions. To ensure transparency regarding infants languishing in hospitals, the programme initiated a Freedom of Information (FOI) lawsuit, which was successful at the first instance. Furthermore, a comprehensive package of professional recommendations was developed, garnering broad support from experts and civil society organisations.

The programme’s communications reached a national audience, achieving an online reach in the millions and ensuring that child protection issues took centre stage in public discourse. As a result, the HCLU’s visibility in this field has grown significantly, its network of professional allies has expanded, and an increasing number of policymakers have begun to publicly address the issues uncovered.