Newsletter 19-24 July 2016
MOST IMPORTANT MATTERS
The Commissioner's visit to Opole
Adam Bodnar spoke with the local authorities and residents in Opole and Dobrzeń Wielki on the decision to extend the city limits [learn more].
European ombudsmen support the Polish Commissioner
The Ombudsmen of Catalonia, Ireland, Estonia and Austria were examining the constitutional status of the Polish Commissioner for Human Rights and his ability to exercise his function in an independent manner. The exploratory mission was summed up during the press conference [learn more]. They also participated in the open debate "Why do we need Ombudsmen in Europe" [learn more].
The Ministry of Justice considers recording the activities of notaries
The Minister of Justice is seriously considering introducing an obligation to record notary activities. The Commissioner for Human Rights has proposed a similar idea earlier in a letter concerning wrongful obtaining of apartments under the guise of loan agreements [learn more].
THE COMMISSIONER ON CITIZENS' MATTERS
What is an "important interest of the taxpayer"?
The Commissioner has once again joined proceedings concerning a write-off of a tax debt. The case concerns a women suffering from a mental disorder, who inherited after her late father, but did not report it within the statutory period, which would allow her to benefit from tax exemption [learn more].
Effective intervention of the Commissioner for Human Rights concerning a denial of passage of cyclists in Krakow
In response to the Commissioner's letter concerning assemblies in the form of a biking ride, the President of the City of Krakow informed about a change of existing practices, taking into account the comments made by the Commissioner [learn more].
The effect of a regional meeting: a motion on the availability of food aid
Aid under the Operational Programme Food Aid does not reach all those in need, and the level of the income criterion is too low – the residents of the Lubusz Voivodeship reported the problem to the Commissioner. The Commissioner approached the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy in this matter [learn more].
SOCIETY
Funding for in vitro procedures
After the decision to withdraw from funding the in vitro procedure, it is still unknown whether other methods of infertility treatment of comparable effectiveness will be funded by the Ministry. The Commissioner has once more approached the Minister of Health regarding this matter [learn more].
Adam Bodnar for Onet: we need an international solidarity of lawyers
– Lawyers are more and more often becoming victims of political games and function as an on-call "whipping boy" in emergency situations. Today, we can see it clearly in Turkey, but it affects the legal community and the judiciary in many countries – says Adam Bodnar in a commentary for Onet.pl [full article].
Protection against the activities of bailiffs – the Minister of Justice's response
The Ministry recognises the problem of the lack of regulations concerning exemption from the costs of enforcement proceedings, and therefore provisions regulating this mechanisms are currently drafted, similarly to the legal basis for compensation to be granted to court experts appointed in the course of these proceedings [learn more].
The rights of patients of mental institutions
Can the right of patients of mental institutions to receive a pass be restricted due to international events held in Poland? The Commissioner asks the Minister of Health this question [learn more].
Why do prisoners have to wear warm sweatshirts in the heat?
In his letter to the Director General of Prison Service, the Commissioner for Human Rights shows the non-uniformity of the arrangements for clothing allowed in various prisons [learn more].
The safety of young people in Youth Care Centres
Insufficient importance is attached to the so-called extraordinary events, i.e. difficult and undesirable situations, in Youth Care Centres. The Commissioner has approached the Minister of National Education in this regard [learn more].
The rights of persons detained by the Police
The matter of personal inspections in Police minors detention centre and in rooms for detainees and persons brought for detoxification remains unregulated. The Commissioner has once more approached the Minister of the Interior in this regard [learn more].
LAW
The act on court-appointed experts
The Commissioner has once more approached the Minister of Justice concerning the urgent adoption of a comprehensive law on court experts [learn more].
A witness's right to refuse providing answers
Extending the rights of witnesses to refuse providing answers is the topic of the Commissioner's motion to the Chairman of the Sejm's Petitions Committee [learn more]. A representative of the Commissioner participated in a meeting of the Committee [learn more].
Registration of the stay of foreigners – citizens of the EU – in Poland
After the Commissioner's motion, activities have been undertaken in the Office for Foreigners, which aim to facilitate the registration of stay in Poland of foreigners – citizens of the European Union [learn more].
The right to citizens' legislative initiative
The Minister of Digital Affairs supports the Commissioner's call to allow citizens to sign citizens' legislative initiatives by electronic means [learn more].