POL’AND’ROCK FESTIVAL
The Commissioner for Human Rights and the CHR Office representatives were present at the Pol’and’Rock music festival in Kostrzyn nad Odrą. The Human Rights Tent was open from 31 July to 3 August. (more)
- The debate „Be yourself – let’s speak about transsexuality”: transsexual persons suffer because of the society’s current approach to them, as a result of which they often become victims of violence or contempt. (report on the debate)
- Debate about hate: words can hurt. We are responsible for them not only legally but also morally, said Commissioner for Human Rights Adam Bodnar (report on the debate)
- Pathological content streaming: what is the danger? (report on the debate)
- Freedom of speech is an element of freedom of election and participation in public life (report on the debate)
UNTIL 31 AUGUST, CANDIDACIES MAY BE PROPOSED FOR DR MACIEJ LIS PRIZE THAT IS AWARDED BY THE CHR.
Candidacies may be proposed for Dr Maciej Lis prize that is awarded by the CHR for special achievements in the field of defending the rights and interests of persons with disabilities. Candidates from all over Poland may be proposed by social organizations and universities, and proposals should be sent to: nagroda.macieja.lisa@brpo.gov.pl. (more)
COURTS AND SYSTEM OF JUSTICE
- The transfer of Judge Łukasz Biliński from Warsaw court’s criminal law division to the family law division was not related to his judgments, explained Maciej Mitera, president of the District Court for Warsaw’s district of Śródmieście (city centre), who issued the decision to transfer the judge. Asked by the Commissioner about the reason, he replied that it was connected with the needs of the family division. (more)
- The information on the envelope that contained a court’s letter to a citizen indicated the type of the letter’s content and the date of the court hearing. The citizen complained of violating the confidentiality of correspondence. The Commissioner inquired the president of the court about the grounds for disclosing such information on the envelope. (more)
- Journalist and university lecturer Przemysław Witkowski was hit in Wrocław because of criticizing inscriptions encouraging, among others, hatred towards LGBTQ people. The Commissioner is looking into the case ex officio and has requested information from the police and the prosecutor's office. (more)
- A prosecutor may suspend court's decision to release a suspect upon the payment of the bail determined by the court. This regulation is strongly against people’s civil rights and results in extending the period of detention in a situation when the court agrees to release on bail. This is one of the CHR’s comments on the amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure, adopted by the Sejm. (more).
EQUAL TREATMENT
- For several years, the CHR has indicated that it was inconsistent with the Constitution to determine the age limits for candidates for the State Fire Service in a regulation of the minister rather than in an act of the Parliament. A draft amendment to the Act on the State Fire Service has been drawn up to move the regulation’s provision to the Act, informed State Fire Service Commander-in-Chief general Leszek Suski. (more)
RIGHTS OF PATIENTS
- There are still many medicines, particularly those on prescription, that are not available at pharmacies. These include, among others insulin, medicines used in epilepsy, hypertension, thyroid diseases, asthma, allergies, oncological and neurological diseases. The Commissioner has written to the Minister of Health because the shortage of those medicines can threaten not only health but also the lives of patients. (more)
- Persons detained upon court’s decisions happen to be placed in internal wards of psychiatric hospitals. The hospital managing bodies are concerned about the risk to lives and health of the wards’ other patients, and the deteriorated conditions of their stay and treatment at the hospital. The Commissioner has written to the Psychiatrists Committee on Preventive Measures. (more)
PUBLIC INFORMATION
The CHR has joined the proceeding carried out by the President of the Personal Data Protection Authority with regard to the Chancellery of the Sejm, concerning the letters of support for candidates for the National Council of the Judiciary. In the Commissioner’s opinion, the Chairman of the Authority has claimed to have the right to control final court decisions. (more)
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
We have to think about what we will leave to future generations and about the lives of those living in distant locations but close to animal breeding farms that poison the environment, said the Commissioner to the members of the Senate committee about the amendment of the Act on environmental protection. (more)
THE MEDIA
Some journalists from Polskie Radio are transferred from strictly journalistic work to archiving work. The human resources department has inquired the radio company’s trade unions about employee rights of these journalists . Their change of work type may be against the governing bodies’ declarations that the company structure changes in Polskie Radio would not include journalists’ dismissals, concluded the CHR. (more)
HOMELESSNESS
The Kraków city’s council for homelessness may contribute to changing the stereotype image of a homeless person, assessed the Commissioner speaking about the initiative of Kraków Mayor Jacek Majchrowski who has appointed the council. (more)
RIGHTS OF PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY
A prisoner was escorted to a doctor’s office across the city with cuffs on his hands and legs. He complained to the CHR of degrading treatment. The Commissioner considered this method of escorting the prisoner unjustified, too severe and disproportionate to the risk. The prisoner reported his offence himself and was imprisoned for less than four months. It would not be reasonable to expect him to try to escape. (more)