International Conference in Budapest with the participation of the Polish Commissioner for Human Rights (CHR)
Date:
An international academic conference entitled "Let's Build Bridges: Working Together to Protect and Promote Human Rights in Challenging Times" took place in Budapest. The conference provided an opportunity to share experiences on the current challenges faced by human rights defenders and to discuss threats to the rule of law. The event, organised by the Hungarian Commissioner for Fundamental Right, brought together diplomats, experts and representatives of ombudsmen from Central and Eastern European countries, including Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Poland. The Polish Commissioner for Human Rights (CHR), was represented by Dr. Janusz Roszkiewicz, Senior Specialist in the Constitutional, International and European Law Team of the Office of the CHR.
Janusz Roszkiewicz gave a presentation entitled "The greatest challenge for the Polish judiciary since 1989. How to appoint judges so that people trust them? In his speech, he addressed the issue of the status of approximately 2300 judges appointed on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary after 6 March 2018. According to the rulings of the Supreme Court, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Court of Justice of the European Union, this raises concerns about the right to an independent judiciary.
Dr. Roszkiewicz also reiterated the CHR's position on this matter, stressing the need to implement the judgments of the above-mentioned courts through a comprehensive reform of the method of appointing the National Council of the Judiciary. The CHR advocates the creation of a mechanism to remedy the legal deficiencies associated with judges appointed after 6 March 2018
