The previous Hungarian government launched inspections at children’s homes after it came to light that then President Katalin Novák had pardoned the accomplice of a convicted pedophile (both men had worked at such an institution). The reports, however, remained confidential. Direkt36 has now obtained the documents, which detail serious shortcomings and appalling conditions.

The foster care system in Hungary is plagued by serious shortcomings.

Direkt36 reporters found Marcin Romanowski, who faces corruption charges in his home country, in an apartment in Buda. One of the property’s owners was hired last fall by the Fidesz parliamentary group led by Máté Kocsis to serve as a secretary.

“When a child is beaten for an hour, where the hell is an adult?” According to a child protection worker, this is one of the most pressing questions in children’s homes. According to research by Direkt36, the system is unable to curb violence among children due to a severe shortage of professionals.

According to documents obtained by Direkt36, several residents of the Hűvösvölgy children’s home reported verbal and physical abuse by certain employees of the institution. Investigations into the matter yielded conflicting findings, but clearly pointed to serious shortcomings in the country’s child protection system.