Visit by the ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM) to the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights
Date:
Wojciech Brzozowski, Deputy Commissioner, hosted a delegation from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights' limited election observation mission (LEOM) at the Office of the CHR on 7 May 2025. The delegation was visiting Poland in connection with the presidential elections to be held on 18 May 2025.
The delegation consisted of legal analyst Donald Bisson, political analyst Tatyana Hilscher-Bogussevich, and assistant Michal Rejmer. The meeting covered the Commissioner's office's involvement in protecting electoral rights and its activities relating to the upcoming elections.
The issues raised included the accessibility of the election campaign and the adaptation of polling stations to the needs of persons with disabilities, the electoral rights of persons deprived of liberty and patients of psychiatric hospitals. The prospect of abolishing the institution of incapacitation, countering hate speech, the principles of election campaign financing and the validity of elections by the Supreme Court were also discussed.
Following an invitation to observe the presidential election in Poland on 18 May, and in accordance with its mandate and the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission, ODIHR has deployed a Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM) for this election.
Led by Dunja Mijatović, the mission consists of a core team of 12 experts based in Warsaw. Additionally, 16 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 19 April. The mission will assess whether the election is held in line with OSCE commitments, other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, and national legislation. The observers will also evaluate the consideration given to prior ODIHR election-related recommendations. The ODIHR LEOM will conduct qualitative and quantitative monitoring of media coverage of the election campaign, including on social networks.
The day after the election, the ODIHR will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on observation of the entire electoral process will be published several months after the election process ends.
https://bip.brpo.gov.pl/pl/content/brpo-spotkanie-delegacja-obwe-wybory-2025
