Commissioner for Human Rights

Newsletter on key activities of the Commissioner for Human Rights 18 – 23 November 2019

COURTS AND THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE

  • The „Warsaw property restitution map”: the  Commissioner has filed a cassation appeal in support of the Miasto Jest Nasze association. (more)
  • Written in a hermetic language, not understandable to persons without legal education, and not meeting the requirements set out in the European law; this is the CHR’s assessment of the ministry’s drafts of information on the rights and obligations of suspects, victims and witnesses in criminal cases. (more)

RIGHTS OF PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY

  • The National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture has conducted an inspection visit to the facility for detainees and sobering up persons, at the Municipal Police Station in Konin. The experts spoke to persons detained after the protest that followed the death of a young man who died after being shot by a police officer. (more)
  • The Prison Service is against the changes in diagnosing and treatment of persons deprived of liberty who have hepatitis C. In reply to the CHR’s letter the Service stated, among others, that prisoners have good access to diagnostic procedures and that the HCV detection rate among this population is higher than at commonly accessible health care facilities. (more)

OTHER NEWS

  • The TVP material entitled Invasion intensifies social hatred towards LGBT people, violates their dignity and untruly associates them with paedophilia. It also manipulates facts about the Equality Marches, presents them in a fully one-sided way and ignores acts of aggression taking place against them. The CHR has applied to the chairman of the National Broadcasting Council to examine the case. (more)
  • During the National Independence Day celebrations held on 11 November 2019 in Warsaw, the police blocked and then removed the persons who were counter-demonstrating against the March of Independence. The CHR is looking into the matter ex officio. In view of the complaints submitted, the Commissioner is also examining the case of the use of force by the police against the March of Poles in Wroclaw, which was dissolved. (more)
  • A football fan could not buy a ticket for a match of the Widzewa Łódź team, that was held in Pruszków, because he was born in the Łódź province. The CHR inquired the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Polish Football Association about actions that are taken by them in cases of making it impossible for fans to take part in matches. (more)

EVENTS

  • Judges, lawyers and activists met At the CHR Office to discuss the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 19 November 2019, regarding the National Council of the Judiciary and the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court. They discussed the importance of the judgment, the procedure for implementing its recommendations and the changes it brings to the Polish judiciary. (more)
  • Adam Komar has received the Maciej Lis prize awarded by the CHR. The prize winner is the president of the Potrafię pomóc [ can help] foundation in Wrocław, that supports children, youth and adults with disabilities as well as their parents and guardians. (more)
  • A meeting with Richard Gere at the CHR Office: Changes begin with a meeting and with getting engaged. (more)
  • The Commissioner for Human Rights took part in the 1st congress entitled Poles’ health 2019. (more)
  • The application of the parliamentary act on the operation of the centre in Gostynin: a seminar at the CHR Office. (more)