A seminar organized by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights as part of the program “Anti-Discrimination and Diversity training; VT/2006/009”, funded by the European Commission, took place in Warsaw on 29 February – 1 March 2008. Representatives of nongovernmental organizations and trade unions dealing with the subject matter of anti-discrimination throughout Poland participated in seminar. (05-MAR-08)

Written by: Agnieszka Chmielecka/ HRH Warsaw

During discussions and meetings, the participants developed and formulated a series of recommendations regarding issues associated with the subject matter of anti-discrimination in the context of the equality policy implemented by the Polish government. These recommendations were submitted to the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

The participants recommended inter alia:
– Speeding up work on the draft law on equal treatment.
– Ensuring, in accordance with EU law, the full independence of operations of the Office for equal treatment, including: guaranteeing political indifference and appropriate financial resources for its activity.
– Expanding the subjective and objective scope of the law – in the context of the European Commission’s work on the comprehensive anti-discrimination directive, the provisions of which provide all minority groups with access to goods and services, medical care, education and social care.
– Including all professional groups under protection against unequal treatment.
– Guaranteeing financial resources from the government for the dissemination and promotion of principles of equal treatment ensuing Poland’s international obligations.
– Introducing obligatory training for employers and management-level staff at employment institutions in the scope of equality policy and counteracting discrimination.
– Consolidating the system for observing and executing anti-discrimination regulations.
– Strengthening the protection of sensitive data of individuals belonging to minority groups in relation to the prevalent practice of the media.
– Providing nongovernmental organizations and labor unions with the opportunity, under the provisions of the Code of proceeding in cases prosecuted as minor offences (pol. Kodeks postêpowania w sprawach o wykroczenia), to support individuals subject to discrimination.
– Improving judicial and administrative procedures in proceedings regarding the violation of the principles of equal treatment.