Miklós Haraszti, former Special Rapporteur

Miklós Haraszti is an Hungarian author, professor, human rights promoter, and a diplomat. His books have been translated into many languages. He has been awarded France's Legion of Honour for his role in promoting human rights internationally, and similarly high honours from Hungary, Poland and Sweden.

In 1976, Mr. Haraszti co-founded Hungary’s human rights and free press movement. In 1989, he participated in the negotiations between the opposition and the authorities, which led to the holding of free and fair elections. In the 1990s he was a Member of Parliament.

From 2004 to 2010, he served as the Representative on Freedom of the Media for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).  Since then he has led various OSCE Election Assessment / Observation missions: US mid-term Congressional Elections in 2010; Parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan in 2012 and in Bulgaria in 2013.

In 2010 and 2011 Mr. Haraszti co-taught courses at Columbia University with President Lee C. Bollinger.  Since 2012 he has been a visiting professor at the Central European University, based in Hungary.