│Foundation│

The Másság (Otherness) Foundation was established in 1993 with the purpose to operate the Legal Defense Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities (NEKI). The Foundation is a legal person, independent of the state, political parties and organizations, and other NGOs. On January 1 1998 the Foundation was declared to be a public benefit organization. The honorary president of the board of trustees is András Bíró, the president is Dr Sára Éliás.
The current members of the board are Dr Bea Bodrogi, Dr Imre Furmann, Dr József Kárpáti, Dr Ferenc Miszlivetz, and Dr Boldizsár Nagy.
NEKI started its work in January 1994 with the objective of protecting the rights of national and ethnic minorities. NEKI was the first professional NGO specialized in minority rights protection. The director of NEKI, Dr József Kárpáti is also the manager of the Foundation’s board.
In 2008, as a result of a strategic planning process, Másság Foundation broadened its reach and decided to take cases concerning discrimination on the basis of characteristics other than belonging to an ethnic minority. Thus, (NEKI) provides legal representation is now engaged in cases concerning discrimination on the grounds of Roma ethnicity, sexual
orientation, skin color, age and gender.
Also as a result of strategic planning the organization’s legal defense and educational activities were separated and a new structural unit, MAMOKA (Módszertani és Oktatási Központ, Center for Methodology and Education), was created for dealing with training and research.

For more information on the Másság Foundation: http://massagalapitvany.hu/
For more information on the Center for Methodology and Education: http://mamoka.hu/

│Reports, Publications│

In addition to investigating discrimination complaints and taking legal action, NEKI also releases periodic publications and information booklets on various topics. The White Booklet is published annually, and contains brief descriptions of strategic cases and the projects of NEKI and the Másság Foundation.
The full list of publications is available under Documents.

│Cases│

NEKI has initiated 250-300 cases in the last 10 or so years in the fields of housing, social security, employment, access to goods and services, education, and law enforcement. NEKI has provided legal representation in cases brought before courts and other authorities, particularly the Hungarian equality body, the Equal Treatment Authority.
NEKI’s legal activities include strategic litigation and free of charge legal aid service. A case is considered a strategic one if it could be capable of developing anti-discrimination law or legal practice. Also, a case could fall under this category if the greater number of victims or the seriousness of violation justifies the taking and documenting of the case.
Complaints can continuously be brought to NEKI both by mail and phone. If necessary, the organization conducts on-site fact finding before launching a legal proceeding.
Additionally, NEKI often carries out situation testing, a method designed to reveal and prove hidden forms of discrimination.

│Social Dialogue│

Besides legal representation in concrete cases, NEKI deems it extremely important to contribute to the social dialogue on discrimination issues. It is in day-to-day correspondence with representatives of the press thus promoting such dialogue, informing the public and forming the attitude of the society towards a more positive direction.

│Anti-discrimination Trainings and Research│

NEKI has been very successful in doing lectures, conducting trainings with the purpose of informing more and more people about human and minority rights and increasing tolerance towards vulnerable groups, particularly the Roma.
NEKI also conducts researches in various topics relating to discrimination.

For more information on our trainings see the Center of Methodology (mamoka.hu)

│Staff│

dr. Kárpáti József, executive director, trainer
Iványi Klára, training coordinator, trainer
dr. Udvari Márton, lawyer, trainer
dr. Kurtán Eszter, lawyer
Jakab Mária, office manager
Baloghné Kis Hajnalka, technical assistant
Legal experts supporting NEKI:
dr. Bihary László, attorney
dr. Bodrogi Bea, attorney
dr. Muhi Erika, attorney
Other staff:
Csákányos István, finance manager
Horváth Ernő, webmaster