Poland is a Member State of the Council of Europe (COE) and of the United Nations (UN), and has human rights obligations at the regional and universal levels.
Regional: European System
As a Member of the COE, Poland has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and is subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. Poland has ratified the European Social Charter, but has not authorized the European Committee of Social Rights to decide collective complaints against it. Its human rights policies and practices are also monitored by the COE Commissioner for Human Rights, who identifies gaps in human rights protection, conducts country visits, engages in dialogue with States, and prepares thematic reports and advice.
Individuals and groups have submitted complaints of human rights violations committed by Poland to the European Court of Human Rights. For example, the Court found Poland failed in its obligation to prevent inhuman and degrading treatment and violated the rights to liberty, fair trial, and an effective remedy when an individual accused of fraud was held in detention for an excessive period of time and denied adequate medical treatment for an ongoing illness. See ECtHR, Kudla v. Poland, no. 30210/96, ECHR 2000, Judgment of 26 October 2000. Additionally, the Court may grant interim measures to protect people in urgent situations of risk in Poland.
As a State party to the European Social Charter, Poland must submit regular reports to the European Committee of Social Rights on its implementation of the Charter’s provisions.
Poland is a party to the following regional human rights treaties:
- European Convention on Human Rights and several of its protocols
- European Social Charter
- COE Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
- COE Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
- European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
- Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
United Nations System
As a UN Member State, Poland is subject to the oversight of various UN human rights bodies, including the Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review and thematic special procedures. As a party to specific universal human rights treaties, Poland’s policies and practices are monitored by UN treaty bodies. It has accepted the complaints procedure of four treaty bodies.
Poland has ratified the following UN human rights treaties:
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
Poland has submitted a reservation, declaration, or understanding that modifies its obligations under the following treaties: CAT, CRPD, CERD, and CRC.
Poland has also ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR aimed at abolishing the death penalty, and Optional Protocols to the CRC addressing children in armed conflict and the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography. Poland has a duty to submit State Reports to the UN treaty body associated with each UN human rights treaty Poland has ratified. These reports must be submitted on a periodic basis and describe the steps taken to implement the treaty provisions.
Poland has also ratified optional protocols and made appropriate declarations allowing individuals to submit complaints against the State alleging violations of the ICCPR, CAT, CEDAW, and CERD. Additionally, certain UN treaties contain inquiry procedures, which allow the UN treaty body to consider allegations of grave or systematic human rights violations. Poland has accepted the inquiry procedures of the CAT and CEDAW.
In March 2001, Poland extended a standing invitation to UN special procedures, which means that any such mandate holders are welcome to conduct visits in Poland. For example, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons went on a mission to Poland in May 2009 and published a visit report in June 2010.
For more information on Poland’s engagement with UN human rights bodies, visit http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/ENACARegion/Pages/PLIndex.aspx.
Last updated: February 2020