This interview was organised by Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights for the third edition of the “Portraits of Strength” photo exhibition. The photo was taken by Agata Kubis at HFHR office in Warsaw, Poland, in August 2024.

Why did you become a human rights defender?

“I became a human rights defender because I wanted to share my resources with people in a less favourable position in our society.” 

“It all happened by chance when in the autumn of 2021, I joined a friend travelling to the Polish-Belarusian border wanting to support stranded refugees. Since then, I have offered legal assistance to migrants in Poland and activists providing humanitarian help to migrants in need. Becoming a member of the Warsaw Bar Association in 2022 allowed me to fight for human rights before courts and domestic authorities.”

What is the nature of your work and what challenges do you face as a Woman Human Rights Defender? 

“I work as a lawyer for the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Poland. I provide legal assistance to migrants. I often visit guarded centres for foreigners and offer legal consultations to people deprived of their liberty for the duration of the administrative proceedings. I also represent them in courts, which is by far the biggest challenge, as the prejudices and misconceptions about migrants exist also amongst some of the judges. The controversies around migration and the rising hostility towards migrants are becoming a growing challenge.”

What is the current human rights situation in your country?

“When it comes to human rights in Poland, there is still much to be done concerning the equal treatment of minority groups. The LGBTQ+ community, refugees and migrants, disabled persons or people deprived of their liberty face challenges that are unacceptable from the human rights perspective.”

“While there is a political will in the government to fix the constitutional and judicial crisis that has existed in Poland since 2015, many human rights issues remain unresolved or further deteriorating at a frightening pace, such as the rights of migrants.”

What kind of human rights situation in your country would you like to see in the next 30 years? 

“In the next 30 years, I would like to see human rights becoming truly universal, irrespective of where a person comes from. At the very least though, we must ensure that the current standards do not deteriorate, and maintain the consensus that the authorities must respect the obligations arising from international treaties and the Polish Constitution.”

Can you describe your motivation to be a human rights defender?

What motivates me to be a human rights defender is making people feel less alone knowing someone is willing to support them and fight for their rights.

About Portraits of Strength

Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) work to protect and advance freedoms while facing discrimination and stereotypes about their role and participation in society.

HRHF seeks to honour and promote independent women human rights defenders and their work through the “Portraits of Strength: Women Defending Human Rights” photo exhibition and highlight the human rights situation in the countries of the Network of Human Rights Houses.

The exhibition, now in its third edition, shares portraits and stories from WHRDs working on a variety of issues including the documentation of human rights violations and alleged war crimes, rule of law, women’s rights, political prisoners, freedom of expression, and more.

Find out more here.