Summary of the Report on the Activity of the Commissioner for Human Rights in 2016 with Comments on the Observance of Human and Civil Rights and Freedoms
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SUMMARY of the Report on the Activity of the Commissioner for Human Rights in 2016 with Comments on the Observance of Human and Civil Rights and Freedoms Warsaw 2017 COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BULLETIN 2017, No 2 SOURCES Summary of the Report on the Activity of the Commissioner for Human Rights in 2016 with Comments on the Observance of Human and Civil Rights and Freedoms Editor-in-chief: Stanisław Trociuk Edited by the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights: Irena Kumidor Published by: Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights al. Solidarności 77, 00-090 Warszawa www.rpo.gov.pl Helpline 800 676 676 © Copyright by Biuro Rzecznika Praw Obywatelskich Warszawa 2017 ISSN 0860-7958 Submitted for typesetting in July 2017 Authorised for publication in July 2017 Edition: 250 copies Cover design: Proofreading, printing and binding: OMIKRON, Sp. z o.o. omikron.net.pl Table of contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Main issues in the field of constitutional and international law .............................................. 10 A. Right to good legislation .................................................................................................. 11 B. Right to judicial protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms .................................. 12 C. Freedom of speech and right to information .............................................................. 14 D. Right to privacy and protection of personal data ....................................................... 15 E. Freedom of assembly ........................................................................................................ 16 F. Right to vote and right to stand for election .............................................................. 17 G. Freedom of association ................................................................................................... 18 H. Right to healthcare ............................................................................................................ 18 I. Right to education ............................................................................................................. 19 J. Citizens safety. Powers of the police and other uniformed services ...................... 21 Main issues in the field of criminal law ......................................................................................... 22 A. Right to good legislation ................................................................................................. 23 B. Right to court protection of individuals’ rights and freedoms ................................ 24 C. Personal liberty ................................................................................................................... 28 D. Citizens safety. Powers of the police and other uniformed services ..................... 29 E. Protection of the family rights ....................................................................................... 30 F. Road traffic ......................................................................................................................... 30 G. Protection of rights of persons deprived of liberty .................................................... 31 H. Medical care for persons deprived of liberty ............................................................. 37 I. Protection of the rights of minors ................................................................................ 39 J. Prisoners with intellectual disability ............................................................................ 40 Main issues in the field of labour law, social security and uniformed services ................... 44 A. Issues in the field of labour law ..................................................................................... 45 B. Right to social security .................................................................................................... 48 C. Social care ........................................................................................................................... 51 Main issues concerning the protection of the rights of soldiers and public service officers ................................................................................................................................................... 52 3 Summary of the report on the activity of the Commissioner for Human Rights in 2016 Main issues in the field of civil law ................................................................................................. 59 A. Right to good legislation ................................................................................................. 60 B. Right to a court in civil proceedings ............................................................................ 61 C. Right to use cultural achievements .............................................................................. 62 D. Protection of family rights .............................................................................................. 63 E. Rights of persons with disabilities ................................................................................ 64 F. Protection of housing rights ........................................................................................... 64 G. Protection of property rights and real estate management .................................... 65 H. Situation of homeless persons ....................................................................................... 70 Main issues in the field of administrative and commercial law and in other fields of law ............................................................................................................ 71 A. Right to good legislation ................................................................................................. 72 B. Right to judicial protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms ................................. 72 C. Protection of consumer rights ....................................................................................... 73 D. Government levies ........................................................................................................... 74 E. Business activity ................................................................................................................. 77 F. Healthcare system ............................................................................................................ 78 G. Protection of rights of persons with disabilities ......................................................... 82 H. Road traffic ......................................................................................................................... 82 Main issues in the field of equal treatment and non-discrimination...................................... 84 A. Combating discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief ............................................................................................ 85 B. Combating discrimination on the grounds of gender ............................................... 87 C. Combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity ........................................................................................................... 89 D. Combating discrimination on the grounds of age ..................................................... 90 E. Combating discrimination on the grounds of disability, and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ................................. 90 Statistical information and data....................................................................................................... 93 Annex no 1 ........................................................................................................................................... 94 4 Introduction According to Article 80 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, eve- ryone has the right to apply to the Commissioner for Human Rights, under the rules set out in the relevant Act of Parliament, for assistance in protecting their freedoms or rights violated by public authorities. Applications filed with the Commissioner are free of charge and no particular form is required to submit them. The broad basis for action, as well as the absence of formal requirements and fees result in a large number of applications submitted to the Commis- sioner for Human Rights. In 2016, a total of 52,551 applications were filed, of which 24,360 were applications in new cases. Employees of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights spoke to 5,195 citizens who visited the Office, and answered 38,074 telephone calls to its free-of-charge helpline, providing relevant advice and explanations. The Commissioner for Human Rights may initiate proceedings on his/her own initiative, e.g. upon analysis of information published by the media. Such ex officio proceedings may also be initiated based on information received by the Commissioner (inter alia from prisons, pre-trial detention facilities and the police) with regard to so-called extraordinary incidents with the participation of law enforcement officers. In 2016, the Commissioner initiated 837 ex officio proceedings (including 231 in the form of a general intervention). In 2016, complaints submitted to the Commissioner for Human Rights re- lated primarily to issues in the fields of: criminal