This month, a draft law on volunteers is being submitted to the Hungarian Government for approval to send it to the Parliament. The draft defines "public interest volunteering" as a right to be exercised only within a limited number of locations, such as public institutions (e.g. day care centers, museums or libraries) and public benefit organizations. Since the draft does not extend its scope to any other form of volunteering, and there is no current legislation applicable for volunteerism, there is a danger of volunteering becoming illegal unless practiced in the listed institutions. ECNL has been working with the Volunteer Center and a cross-sectoral working group in Hungary to help improve the draft. For more information visit the website of the Hungarian Volunteer Center Foundation www.onkentes.hu.
