Commissioner for Human Rights

On 25 December 2024, the provisions of the Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers governing external reporting came into force. A whistleblower may file an external report to the Commissioner for Human Rights or directly to a competent public authority.

Website of the Team for Whistleblowers

In an attempt to ensure public access to information on the rights, protection and legal remedies of whistleblowers and persons referred to in Article 21, the CHR has prepared the website sygnalisci.gov.pl. The launch of this website is aimed at increasing public awareness of the protection of whistleblowers and facilitating access to the necessary information contained in the Act.

External whistleblower complaint form and advice on rights and remedies

A form for external reporting is available on the website of the Whistleblower Team. The form, when selected, allows the reporting party to remain anonymous and to attach additional files that may be helpful during the verification and procedure of the complaint.

The role of the CHR is also to support whistleblowers making a report. A request for advice on rights and remedies can be made on the website.

Procedure for external reports

In addition, a procedure has been published on the CHR's Public Information Bulletin, which sets out, among other things, the rules for the CHR's acceptance of external reports, initial verification and forwarding of external reports to the competent public authority, as well as the procedure for handling information on violations of the law reported anonymously. The document is available at the link below.

Channels of communication with the Whistleblower Team

As of 25 December 2024, external reports of violations of the law are also accepted by post to the correspondence address of the Whistleblower Team at the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, ul. Puławska 99a, 02-595 Warsaw. The envelope should be titled ‘Notification of violation of the law’.

The Team also accepts external reports in a verbal form via a recorded telephone helpline at (22) 20-98-499. The helpline is not a channel for providing advice on the rights and remedies of whistleblowers and persons referred to in Article 21 of the Act.

Details of the operation of the helpline are available on the website of the Whistleblower Team.

A whistleblower also has the option to make a complaint in person. Upon the request of the person who wishes to make a report, a date is set for a face-to-face meeting with a member of the Team, during which the whistleblower has the opportunity to report a violation of the law, including the opportunity to submit documents.

Submissions made through communication channels other than those indicated do not provide the guarantee of confidentiality protection provided by the Act. The ePUAP electronic mailbox of the OCHR is not a channel intended to receive external reports.

Liability for false reporting

In order to prevent false reporting, the legislation provides for the possibility of imposing penalties on persons who knowingly provide false information about violations of the law. Such actions are punishable by a fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment for up to two years (Article 57 of the Act). The CHR is obliged to inform the Public Prosecutor's Office in the case of a report deliberately made on the basis of false information.

https://bip.brpo.gov.pl/pl/content/przyjmowanie-zgloszen-zewnetrznych-sygnalistow