BackOn 10 December 2013 at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw the 25th anniversary of the Polish Ombudsman was celebrated combined with the annual celebrations of the International Human Rights Day.
The gala was attended by former Polish Human Rights Defenders – Professor Ewa Łętowska and Professor Adam Zieliński, as well as by high representatives of state and judicial authorities and employees of the Polish Ombudsman Office. Additionally, a short projection with wishes from Professor Andrzej Zoll, also former Human Rights Defender, was displayed.
Professor Irena Lipowicz, Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Poland presented a ranking of challenges in the area of human and civil rights in Poland. She also pointed out other social and legal issues that have undergone a significant improvement. During the ceremony outstanding employees of the Polish Ombudsman Office were awarded Medals for Long Service of the President of the Republic of Poland.
Furthermore Professor Irena Lipowicz awarded Mr Bartłomiej Skrzyński, the spokesman for disabled persons in Wrocław, the annual Paweł Włodkowic prize. The prize represents the acknowledgement of the Polish Human Rights Defender for acting in defense of truth and fundamental values even against the view of the majority.
Ranking of the Polish Ombudsman 2013
The greatest threats within the observance of human and civil rights in Poland
- Extreme poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, homelessness;
- Instability and dysfunctionality of the pension and social assistance system;
- Problems with legal regulations and accessibility within the public health service;
- Inefficiency of the jurisdiction;
- Dysfunctionality of the legislation system and crisis of the public consultations system;
- Lack of fast reaction to new threats to privacy and personal data protection;
- Lack of effective procedural measures within counteracting discrimination;
- Lack of a homogeneous solution relating to the problem of reprivatization of property;
- Dysfunctionality of legal regulations concerning mass events and the safety of public assembly;
- Lack of a general, free of charge legal aid system for persons in difficult financial situation.
List of issues in which significant progress has been achieved
- Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
- Development of a pro-family policy;
- Broader access to public information and growing consciousness of the citizens about their rights and possibilities of civil engagement;
- Improvement of the legal situation and perception of the role of foreigners in Poland;
- Reform of the electoral law
Source: Office of the Human Rights Defender of Poland
