EUROPE | ENNHRI joins IOI in supporting Polish Commissioner for Human Rights

After the IOI issued a report on the human rights situation in Poland just a week ago, IOI Secretary General Günther Kräuter is very pleased that the support was now extended through the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and the European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet).

On the occasion of the General Assembly Meeting of ENNHRI, taking place from 27 to 28 October 2016 in Zagreb, various human rights stakeholders came together and issued a significant statement on the human rights situation in Poland.

As a NHRI the Polish Commission for Human Rights is also a member of the IOI and plays a crucial role in the protection and promotion of human rights. It is also working constructively with civil society and international organisations in an effort to promote and protect human rights throughout Poland despite challenging circumstances.

The statement underlines that a vital component to fulfil this condition is for all NHRIs to have adequate state funding in order to be independent of Government. Furthermore, taking into account the UN Paris Principles the statement calls for the duty of promoting the security of tenure of its decision-making body and its ability to engage in critical analysis on human rights issues.

Finally, once again the international human rights stakeholders urge all relevant actors to take prompt action to ensure that the Polish Commissioner for Human Rights can continue working on the protection of human rights throughout the country.