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“It is with growing unease that we have noted statements by the highest state authorities, including the Minister of Justice–Prosecutor General and the President of Republic of Poland, slighting the good name of Polish courts – the third pillar of power in a democratic state with the rule of law.” state Polish NGOs in their public statement. (22-SEP-06)

On 29 August 2006, the daily “Zycie Warszawy” published an article, which stated a thesis that Jacek Kuron cooperated with the Secret Police in the 1980s. This article caused an avalanche of comments aimed at discrediting not only Jacek Kuron, but the entire political line that he represented. The politicians of the ruling coalition, in particular the politicians from the League of Polish Families (Liga Polskich Rodzin), have excelled at this. (08-SEP-06)

The Polish government elaborated draft amendments to the Law on Foundations. The proposed amendments increase State control over foundations to such an extent that a question arises whether following the approval of the act in this form foundations, which are non-governmental organizations, will still remain non-governmental? (26-AUG-06)

‘The persistent advocacy of the death penalty as a cornerstone punishment, upon which rests the power of law and the subsequent use of such a postulate to force through the reinstatement of the death penalty in Republic of Poland is harmful to the development of the moral and legal culture of the country’ states the Helsinki Committee in Poland. (18-AUG-06)

“In connection with the passing of the so-called Vetting Act (the Act of 21 July 2006 on the disclosure of information on documents of State security apparatus from the period between 1944 – 1990 and the contents of those documents) by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, we feel an obligation to protest against some of  its solutions, which violate human rights and the principle of the rule of law.”(18-AUG-06)

The subject of reinstating the death penalty has been discussed recently in the Republic of Poland. Paying no heed to the position of the European Commission and the Council of Europe or to Poland’s international obligations in this matter, governing coalition parties are calling for its reinstatement. (04-AUG-06)

On 3 July, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights approached Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz with an inquiry regarding the status and course of work on the establishment of the office for counteracting discrimination due to race and ethnic origin. Although Republic of Poland, as a member of the European Union, is obligated to form an independent office dealing with such issues, up till now this has not been done. (07-JULY-06)

The new report is available on the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights website (www.hfhrpol.waw.pl) concerning the state of human rights observance in the Republic of Poland in 2005. The report was prepared for the European Commission by the President of Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights Marek Antoni Nowicki – the European Union’s expert on Fundamental Rights Issues. (07-JULY-06)

The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR) requests  Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz – Prime Minister of Republic of Poland to submit to the Sejm an appropriate bill for ratification of the Protocol No.14 to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Republic of Poland remains one of only five states that have yet to submit ratification instruments (including the Russian Federation and Turkey). (23-JUNE-06)