Hungarian Child Protection Act, Article 17 (1)-(4)

Targeted professionals: a.) Doctors and other health professionals, especially those in touch with children, pediatricians, community child health and woman health workers (védődnő) b.) family social workers c.) kindergarten and school personnel and educational/child care advice centers d.) Police e.) Prosecutor's Office f.) Court g.) Protection/supervision service for those who committed a crime (but are not incarcerated) h.) bodies that help victims and reduce damage i.) refugee camps and temporary homes for refugees j.) NGOs, foundations, churches k.) labour authorities (Article 17 (1) of the Child Protection Act lists these professions that are required to report)

Professional Secrecy Provisions

Conditions for disclosing information

Article 17 (2) of the Child Protection Act explicitly orders certain professionals (see previous column) 1. to notify the child welfare service if a child is endangered and 2. to initiate procedure at the authorities if the child is "abused, severely neglected, or severely endangered or if the child severely endangers himself, herself or others"

Right or duty to report

Duty to report to child welfare services or an authority (primarily guardianship office) for the professionals named in Article 17 (1) and right to report for any citizen or organisation under conditions listed in Article 17 (2)

Existence of disciplinary sanctions in case of non-reporting

In case Article 17 (2) of the Child Protection Act (CPA) is violated by the listed professionals in Article 17 (4) -- who are all those listed in Article (1) except "NGOs, churches and foundations" -- the Guardianship Office recommends disciplinary procedures against the professional at the employer. The Guardianship Office initiates criminal procedures if there is suspicion of crime against the child (Article 17 (4) of the CPA).