Two-thirds of rapes and other sexual crimes against women are committed by people they know, often husbands or current or former intimate partners. In 1997, Hungary passed a law making marital rape illegal. While Hungary has a very high rate of conviction, there are reasons to believe that cases of rape are underreported. Low levels of reporting may be caused by a number of barriers in the criminal justice system.

One such barrier is a clause in the Penal Code which requires women to prove that they physically resisted intercourse. This definition of rape fails to take into account the degree of fear of harsher violence that often prevents women from fighting back. There is also evidence that police do not practice proper methods of investigation. In addition, witnesses and victims do not receive appropriate protection, since the Criminal Procedure Act allows the accused to be present during their testimony. Amnesty International's report concludes that the lack of appropriate procedures is due to poor training of forensics experts, judges, lawyers and other specialists. Better training and educational programs could help reduce prejudice against victims of rape.

Amnesty International makes a number of recommendations for the Hungarian government. One such suggestion is to change the law by requiring proof of consent, rather than requiring proof of physical resistance, when establishing cases of rape. The Hungarian government is also urged to keep better statistical records about sexual violence and research the reasons for underreporting of rape to the police.

Compiled from: "Hungary: Cries Unheard. The Failure to Protect Women from Rape and Sexual Violence in the Home," Amnesty International