Newsletter 13 – 19 September 2016
MAIN MATTERS
The CHR’s regional meetings in the Lubelskie voivodeship
From 13 to 16 September, the Commissioner for Human Rights held meetings with residents of the Lubelskie voivodeship in: Puławy, Opole Lubelskie, Kraśnik, Zamość, Chełm and Lublin. The meetings were also attended by Henryk Wujec, a famous oppositionist and member of the Workers Defence Committee [Polish: Komitet Obrony Robotników – KOR], who is now a member of the Social Council operating under the auspices of the CHR.
Dr Adam Bodnar also visited the former Nazi concentration camp at Majdanek and then met with representatives of ethnic and religious minorities facing discrimination in the present times [more].
The rights of young citizens, the sovereignty of the state and the question of whether it may be restricted by the European Union were discussed by the Commissioner with the students of the 2nd General Middle School in Zamość. The sense of social activity was spoken about by Henryk Wujec [more].
The visit in the Lubelskie voivodeship ended with a debate relating to the Constitution, in which the participants discussed how citizens should exercise their right to the freedom of conscience and religion, referred to in Article 53 of the Constitution of Poland [more].
THE COMMISSIONER ON CITIZENS’ ISSUES
The case of 200 zł. Is it permitted to pay for performed work in a way which bypasses the regulations on pensions?
A pensioner did some work for an institution in the city of Lublin. If he had been paid directly, he could have lost his right to pension. Therefore, the institution paid the money to his wife. The institution’s employees were convicted for this. The CHR has filed a cassation appeal on the case [more].
The case of Mr G: may a foreign citizen who lives in a civil partnership with a Polish citizen buy an apartment in Poland? The Supreme Administrative Court shares the opinion of the Commissioner
Foreigners who want to buy an apartment in Poland’s border area are required to prove their connection with Poland in order to get permission for such a transaction. The Minister of Internal Affairs, as well as the court of first instance, ruled that marriage constitutes such a connection, but a civil partnership does not. The Commissioner filed a cassation appeal in the case. The appeal has been upheld by the Supreme Administrative Court [more].
May prisoners independently manage their own money?
At one of the prisons, the prison administrators paid part of the money earned by two prisoners to deposit bank accounts opened for them. However, the prisoners were not allowed to select the type of account, and faced difficulties when they wanted to transfer their savings to other accounts. The European Court of Human Rights pointed out that in that case, Poland violated Protocol No. 1 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms [more].
THE SOCIETY
What does the CHR do about the issue of persons who took bank loans denominated in Swiss francs?
More specific information about complaints of citizens who took bank loans denominated in Swiss francs, and about action taken by the Commissioner on the issue, is available from the website rpo.gov.pl
About the condition of Polish geriatrics
What does the system of geriatric medical care look like in Poland? What is geriatric psychology, and why is it important in maintaining good health of elderly persons? - These and other issues were discussed during the seminar on the condition of geriatric medicine in Poland, which took place at the Office of the CHR [more].
Meeting of Expert Committee for Homelessness Prevention
The recent changes in the legislation relating to shelters and night-stay facilities for homeless persons were discussed by members of the Expert Committee for Homelessness Prevention [more].
Are persons under the influence of alcohol, placed at police detention units, safe?
Persons under the influence of alcohol are often placed at police detention units where no medical staff is available. Participants of the seminar held at the Office of the CHR discussed how to effectively ensure the safety of such persons [more].
LEGISLATION
Are disciplinary proceedings relating to the conduct of bailiffs carried out with due diligence?
The Commissioner had doubts about the rules of conducting disciplinary proceedings against bailiffs, and thus submitted an inquiry to the Minister of Justice. He has recently received a reply [more].
The Commissioner inquires about the supervision over decisions of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority
The Office of the CHR has been informed several times that the rights of candidates for members of the National Insurance Undertaking and the National Reinsurance Undertaking, who are subject to verification by the Financial Supervision Authority, are not properly protected. The Commissioner has addressed an inquiry about the issue to the Minister of Finance [more].
THE CHRONICLE
The CHR participated in the celebrations of the 77th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland
The Commissioner for Human Rights Dr Adam Bodnar laid flowers at the monument to the Killed and Murdered in the East. The Warsaw celebrations in commemoration of the 77th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland were attended, among others, by the Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz and the Mayor of Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz [more].