Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday called for the European Union member states to vote on whether Hungary is breaching EU treaty values, following what HRW called “erosion of the rule of law.”

According to the statement, Victor Orban’s government in Hungary has escalated its attack on judicial independence and civil liberties, threatening the rights to free expression and assembly. Several constitutional amendments have given power to the government to restrict LGBT events and public gatherings under the guise of “child protection.”

HRW highlighted these amendments violate Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union (TEU), which obligates member states to uphold democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and equality.

Additionally, HRW stated that the bill “On the Transparency of Public Life” proposed by a Hungarian lawmaker in May would give the government unchecked powers to target civil society and independent media. The bill would give a government-controlled body the power to disintegrate and defund any organization it deems to be a threat to Hungarian sovereignty.

To prevent such democratic backsliding, HRW urged EU member states to hold a vote under Article 7 of the TEU to defend the “Union’s core values before the situation deteriorates further.” According to 7, the EU may evaluate and determine whether there is a risk of breaching the TEU, potentially issuing suspensions of certain rights, including voting.

In recent years, Hungary has undergone major democratic backsliding and erosion of the rule of law, marked by increased control over media, civil society and the judiciary. According to the Freedom House, the government has systematically attempted to take control of independent institutions through legal changes, increasingly polarizing the political environment.