Cabinet stops finances for NGO working with migrants

The Cabinet approved a financial contribution for non-governmental organisations working with refugees in the amount of €500,000, but one of the organisations that was due to receive a share - the Human Rights League (HRL) - came short due to its criticism towards police actions in refugee camps, SME daily reports. According to the Government, criticism by the Human Rights League isn't constructive and this organisation shouldn't be present in accommodation facilities for refugees anymore. Cabinet also plans to ask the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) Regional Representation in Budapest to replace the League as its partner for provision of information on situation in camps. The Human Rights League specifically criticised police actions in Medvedov (Trnava region) in the beginning of September, where refugees demanded their transfer abroad. It also criticised the strict rules and lack of English-speaking people when trying to communicate with refugees. "The League is ready to discuss its shortcomings, but so far nobody has approached us. If they have some reservations against us, they should communicate with us in the first place, and not to turn outright to the UN," said the League's director Zuzana Števulová. Their NGO focuses on legal help for refugees seeking asylum. Its functioning is based on various donations, contributions and drawing on EU funds. The League, as well as many other NGOs, now face lack of money as the programme period for drawing EU funds has recently come to an end. The League's employees thus decided to partially work as volunteers. "We represent people in proceedings and we can't just cancel those because our money ran out," said Števulová. The UNHCR will arrive to Slovakia in a few days to discuss the whole matter with the Government and the Human Rights League. "We consider the League to be our partner and we'd like to understand where the problem is," said UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch.