Commissioner for Human Rights

Newsletter Commissioner for Human Rights in Poland 11-19 April 2017

Newsletter  11-19 April 2017

MAIN MATTERS

Torture by the police: the Commissioner for Human Rights explains how to prevent it. Adam Bodnar’s press conference on 19 April

There have been cases of the police using torture against apprehended persons or witnesses in Poland, which has to be counteracted. One of the solutions is to ensure access to a lawyer from the moment of the apprehension, writes Adam Bodnar in his motion to the Minister of Justice. The extensive document contains an analysis of specific cases of inhuman and cruel treatment, which have been confirmed by courts.

- Why do we need to talk about it? Firstly, because the prohibition of torture, arising from our constitution, has its roots in the "bitter experiences of the past", in the memory of what happened before World War II in Bereza Kartuska or in Stalinist prisons. Therefore, the prohibition has to be strictly observed, said Commissioner for Human Rights Adam Bodnar at a press conference held on 19 April.  – Secondly, torture in Poland takes place in the case of the weakest and poorest persons, those who are unable to cope with the law system themselves. The state has its responsibilities towards such people, and should provide assistance to them from the moment they are detained. Thirdly, torture leaves a permanent mark in a human being. The process of treating such trauma is long-lasting; such experience destroys the trust to the state and its representatives forever, emphasized the CHR at the meeting [more].

Regional meetings in the Wielkopolskie voivodeship

From 25 to 27 April, Commissioner for Human Rights Adam Bodnar will hold meetings with residents of the Wielkopolskie voivodeship. He will visit: Kalisz, Leszno, Zbąszyń, Poznań and Gniezno [meetings schedule and registration form].

The CHR’s last meetings held in the Dolnośląskie voivodeship in March are described in the last issue of Tygodnik Powszechny [more]. The article shows how many various problems are discussed by citizens with the Commissioner. Magdalena Kicińska, the author of the article, took part in the CHR meetings.

The bill on the National Court Register should not be adopted, and the Legislative Office of the Sejm is right to warn against it, writes the Commissioner to the Speaker of the Sejm [more].

The Commissioner on international protection of homosexual men persecuted in Chechnya

According to media reports and the organization named LGBT Russian Network, about 160 men in Chechnya have been detained, tortured and forced to disclose personal data of other potential victims. In view of the fact that for many years, the largest group of foreigners applying for international protection in Poland have been Russian Federation citizens declaring the Chechen nationality, some of the victims of the current persecution may, according to the CHR, apply for the refugee status in Poland.

The CHR requested the Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard to inform the officers of the existing risk to such persons and to increase the awareness of the special need to protect foreigners who seek protection in connection with persecution based on homosexual orientation, as well as to ensure confidentiality and the sense of security to them. [more].

THE COMMISSIONER ON CITIZENS’ ISSUES

The Minister of Health has initiated work on adopting German solutions in the field of granting work permits for doctors who are foreign citizens [more].

Wrocław. The additional information meeting on bank loans in Swiss francs was attended by 150 persons. [more]. The conclusions from the meetings held with citizens within the action were submitted by Adam Bodnar to the Association of Polish Banks [more].

What happens to recordings of telephone calls during which people conclude distance contracts? The CHR writes to the Minister of Digitization that such recordings should be archived [more].

The Expert Committee on Health met with nurses and midwives [more].

The Commissioner writes to the Minister of National Education about the right to equal treatment of both genders in terms of access to vocational education [more].

The Commissioner calls on the Minister of Health to appoint a Committee on Infertility Treatment  [more].

LEGISLATION

A motion to the Minister of the Interior and Administration regarding electoral rights of persons without a permanent place of residence [more].

„The crime of torture, not only against prisoners, should be included in the penal code"- writes Rafał Kulas of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture [more].

Recruitment procedures for local government officials should be changed [more].

The Commissioner informs the Minister of the Interior and Administration of the doubts regarding retirement pension cuts for members of former security services [more].

THE CHRONICLE

Meeting with the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment Adam Lipiński [more].

VII Regional debate of the National Preventive Mechanism was held in Bialystok [more].

INVITATION

The second edition of the competition for the best multimedia interpretation of the Constitution, addressed to lower and upper secondary school pupils, has started. The closing date for submissions is 17 May [details].

On 2nd May, recruitment for student summer internships at the CHR Office will close [details]. Information on the last year’s internship programme is available at: rpo.gov.pl

 

Important!

The website rpo.gov.pl contains a calendar of the upcoming meetings with the Commissioner for Human Rights and of events held under his patronage.

Information about the Commissioner’s work on cases relating to citizens’ issues is available under the “What we do” tab. An interactive map indicates cases in which the Commissioner has intervened.