Commissioner for Human Rights

Newsletter Commissioner for Human Rights in Poland 27 March - 3 April 2017

Newsletter  27 March – 3 April 2017

MAIN MATTERS

20th anniversary of the current Constitution

On Sunday, 2 April 2017, 20 years have passed since the adoption of the current text of the Constitution. On that occasion, the CHR Office organized meetings and discussions open to the general public, e.g. with prof. Ewa Łętowska, the first Polish Commissioner for Human Rights and with prof. Jerzy Ciemniewski, one of the authors of the current Constitution. The CHR Office employees presented the main matters dealt with by the Commissioner and directly relating to the rights arising from the Constitution [more]. Adam Bodnar indicated which article of the Basic Law is, in his opinion, the most important one [more]. Deputy CHR Krzysztof Olkowicz talked about the Constitution with prisoners in the prison in the town of Czarne [more].

The CHR’s regional meetings in the Dolnośląskie voivodeship

From 26 to 31 March, Commissioner for Human Rights Adam Bodnar held meetings with residents of the Dolnośląskie voivodeship. He visited: Bogatynia, Jelenia Góra, Wałbrzych, Kłodzko, Świdnica, Legnica and Wrocław.

During the meetings, women’s rights could additionally be discussed with the chairperson of the association “Silne Kobiety Bogatyni” [Strong Women of Bogatynia] [more]. The CHR also met with scouts and scout leaders from the troop named Świdnica [more], and with the Lemkos association from Legnica [more].

The Commissioner also visited residents from the social welfare home in Ostrowin [more] and met with young people from the youth correctional centre in Zgorzelec [more].

The importance of mediation at school, in the family, between neighbours and organizations, or after leaving a prison, and the significance of teaching how to resolve conflicts was discussed by Adam Bodnar with representatives of the Peace House Foundation in Wrocław [more]. The foundation also co-operates with Julian Tuwim Primary School no. 108 in Wrocław, whose pupils told the CHR about mediation in the case of conflicts in the class [more].

At the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics of the University of Wrocław Adam Bodnar gave a lecture entitled “Security of human rights and civil rights” [more].

During his trip to the Dolnośląskie voivodeship, the Commissioner also visited the Gross-Rosen Museum in Rogoźnica [more].

Implementation by Poland of the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights

The plenipotentiary of the government of Ukraine for proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights talked with the CHR representatives about how to ensure effective implementation of the Court’s judgements [more]. A day before, a meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Team on the European Court of Human Rights was held, during which the CHR Office employees pointed out issues relating to the implementation of the ECHR judgments against Poland [more].

Necessary amendments to the election law:  a seminar with OSCE experts

The OSCE representatives presented recommendations developed following the report drawn up after the 2015 parliamentary elections in Poland. Representatives of the Polish Parliament, NGOs and academic communities submitted their comments on the document [more].

Representatives of the High Council of Justice of Ukraine met with Deputy CHR

Deputy CHR Stanisław Trociuk hosted a delegation of the High Council of Justice of Ukraine, headed by its Chairman Igor M. Benedysiuk. Issues discussed in the meeting included the CHR’s powers under the law, as well as methods of exerting influence in the field of civil rights’ protection. Representatives of the Council were particularly interested in the Polish solutions and the Commissioner's actions relating to the introduction changes to the judicial system [more].

 

THE COMMISSIONER ON CITIZENS’ ISSUES

What about the law on cutting down trees? The Commissioner proposes solutions to the Sejm [more].

How to provide support to persons who leave prisons? Deputy CHR visited the „Dom Patronatu” support facility in Warsaw [more].

In the case of students, can prize scholarships for academic performance be combined with social assistance benefits? [more].

Judges and prosecutors are trained in how to behave in contact with persons with intellectual or mental disability:  the head of the National School of the Judiciary and Public Prosecution replies to the CHR’s inquiry [more].

Information on the scale of unregistered work performed by alimony debtors, and the possible consequences for the public finance sector [more].

The Minister of Infrastructure and Construction replies to the application regarding financial support, in the form of fixed-amount allowance for fuel, to persons who use renewable energy sources [more].

What about training for judges on alimony-related issues? A reply of the National School of the Judiciary and Public Prosecution [more].

LEGISLATION

Challenges for the Polish judiciary sector: the CHR talks to representatives of the IUSTITIA Association of Polish Judges [more].

The Ministry of Justice replies to the postulate of the CHR and the Ombudsman for Children to establish a centralized register of persistent alimony debtors [more].

Will then-underage victims of the Second World War receive compensations for experienced repressions? [more].

Application to the Minister for Family, Labour and Social Policy regarding the interpretation of the regulation which sets out the method of determining the number of family members to assess eligibility for the child allowance [more].

THE CHRONICLE

Meeting of the Expert Committee on Persons with Disabilities: discussion on the issues of inclusive education and of disabled persons’ assistants [more].

The CHR joins the action “Poland in blue” [more].

Dr Aleksandra Iwanowska from the National Mechanism to Prevent Torture gave an interview for the magazine “Dom Pomocy Społecznej Magazyn Dyrektora”, in which she speaks about issues relating to the use of direct coercion at social welfare homes [more]