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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to the call by the HFHR and other non-governmental organisations in which the NGOs requested the development of a voluntary resettlement programme for refugees from Syria. “We are aware of the tremendous humanitarian needs resulting from the conflict in Syria, and financially speaking the Polish involvement is rather insignificant”, reads the Ministry’s response.

Last week, the District Court for Warszawa-Śródmieście made a judgment in which it held that termination of an employment contract of an employee on the ground that he attended the Equality March was illegal and discriminatory. The claimant, Ariel T., has been awarded compensation of PLN 2,500.

Bogusław Pyrak has been illegitimately detained on remand for more than 12 months. Last week, the Regional Court in Płock awarded him nearly PLN 145,000 in compensation for the financial and moral losses the man suffered due to his illegal detention.

The Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw has found that the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has the right to obtain information about the existence of a formal agreement between Poland’s Internal Security Agency and the US National Security Agency.

Currently, there are about 600,000 stateless persons in Europe, including many migrants that remain in a legal vacuum. A lack of proper domestic mechanisms that would allow stateless persons to regulate their status puts them at risk of falling victims to human rights violations.

The HFHR has issued a statement on the cancellation of the “Golgotha Picnic” performance at Malta Festival Poznań and in other cities. It has been noted that artistic activity is an integral part of the freedom of expression, which also encompasses statements and works that may offend, shock or alarm some people.

Although in most cases the rights of detained persons are respected, there is still a considerable risk of a detained person being beaten by the Police or otherwise exposed to inhumane or humiliating treatment, says a report on the situation in Polish penitentiary facilities published by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

More than 30,000 refugees from Syria, currently staying in such countries as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, need immediate help. Despite the unfolding humanitarian crisis, the Member States of the European Union, including Poland, are failing to adequately respond to the situation.

The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights wishes to express its deep concern over the media reports on the actions performed by the Internal Security Agency on 18 June 2014 at the offices of the Wprost weekly magazine.