POLAND | Ombudsman hosted meetings concerning human rights in EU context

At the beginning of April, the Office of Ombudsman was hosting a Meeting of European Regional Directors of International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). The IOI European Board comprises of Ombudsmen from the following countries: Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Catalonia and Sweden who gather once every six months in order to elaborate the most important issues applying to the protection of human rights in Europe, the current work of the Institute and international cooperation between their institutions. Among the key topics discussed were problems relating to the privatization of public services, the implementation of the EU Alternative Dispute Resolution Directive and Ukraine’s situation in the context of the protection of human rights. The next meeting of the European IOI Boards is planned in September 2014 in Tallinn.

On the 9^th-11^th of April 2014, Ms Irena Lipowicz, the Human Rights Defender of Poland was hosting a visit of Ms Emily O’Reilly, the European Ombudsman. During the three-day stay the Polish and European Ombudsmen met inter alia with representatives of the legislative authorities of Poland and participated in the General Assembly of Judges of the Constitutional Tribunal which was additionally attended by judges of the Court of Justice of the European Union on the occasion of the 10^thanniversary of the Polish EU accession. Ms Emily O’ Reilly has also met with representatives of media and NGO’s, e.g. the Polish Congress of Women. During the last working day discussions concentrated on the preparation of 2015 National Seminar of the European Network of Ombudsmen which will be held in Warsaw. The upcoming meeting will relate to the protection of rights of minorities, persons with disabilities and the elderly.

Source: Human Rights Defender, Poland