According to Article 30 of the Basic Law, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights (hereinafter: CFR) is nominated by the President of the Republic and elected by Parliament for 6 years to carry out activities guaranteeing the protection of fundamental rights. The CFR is solely accountable to the Parliament.

The main task of the Commissioner is to inquire into any improprieties relating to constitutional rights it has become aware of and to initiate general or particular measures for their redress.

The Commissioner gives opinions on draft rules of law affecting his tasks and competences; and may make proposals for the amendment or making of rules of law affecting fundamental rights and/or the recognition of the binding nature of an international treaty.

The Commissioner surveys and analyses the situation of, and prepares statistics on infringements of fundamental rights in Hungary. The Commissioner submits its annual report to the Parliament, which provides information on its fundamental rights activities and issues recommendations and proposals for regulations or any amendments. The Parliament discusses the report during the year of its submission.

In the course of his activities, the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights cooperates with organisations that aim at the promotion of the protection of fundamental rights.

As part of his mandate, the Commissioner may initiate the review of legislation at the Constitutional Court as to their conformity with the Basic Law. The Commissioner also initiates the review of the conformity of municipality decrees with acts of law before the Curia (High Court).

Furthermore, the Commissioner participates in the preparation of national reports based on international treaties relating to his tasks and competences, and monitors and evaluates the enforcement of these treaties under Hungarian jurisdiction.

By virtue of Section 4 of Act CLXV of 2013 on Complaints and Public Interest Disclosures (Complaints Act), as of January 1, 2014, public interest disclosures may also be submitted through the secure electronic system operated by the CFR.

Under the Act CXLIII of 2011 on the Promulgation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), as of January 1, 2015, the tasks of the National Preventive Mechanism in Hungary are performed by the CFR.

The Commissioner has two deputies: the Deputy-Commissioner responsible for the Rights of Nationalities and the Deputy-Commissioner for Future Generations.