As representatives of social organizations, we oppose the hostile takeover of the office of the Ombudsman by the ruling parliamentary majority. We do not accept de facto deciding on our rights and freedoms by the politically dependent tribunal of Julia Przyłębska, disregarding the fundamental principles of a fair trial in its works, including the issue of independence and impartiality of judges.

The view adopted yesterday by the tribunal is another example of the government's appropriation of the state, undermining the foundations of democracy and circumventing the provisions of the Constitution in accordance with the principle: even after us a flood.

The provisions of the Constitution of Poland do not preclude the continuation of the Ombudsman's mission until his successor is elected. The values included in the preamble to the Constitution and its systemic principles, such as the continuity of the functioning of public authorities, citizens' trust in the state, as well as care for the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizen not to be violated, even require that this office be held until the election of a successor, independently by a person who previously obtained a democratic mandate.

The opposite standard adopted by the tribunal of Julia Przyłębska means that we all lose our defender. This change will most affect people for whom the office of the Ombudsman has been the main support and advocate of their rights in recent years. Therefore, it will be felt most strongly by people at risk of exclusion for various reasons: people from smaller towns, the elderly, with disabilities, in a homeless crisis, belonging to minorities, especially sexual minorities, people staying in detention centers. In 2020 alone, more than 72,000 requests for protection in individual cases were submitted to the Ombudsman's Office. In the light of recent events, Poland will also lose an important center for advocating for women's rights.

As a civil society, we are also losing an important center of social debate, a place to raise forgotten or neglected problems, forging new ideas and solutions. One of the last levels where people with different views could meet, respectfully looking for common solutions to problems they noticed.

The decision of the tribunal is also a direct threat to several hundred people working in the Office of the Human Rights Defender. The risk of purges, an attack on their independence and behavior known from other institutions taken over in a similar way. In these difficult times, we express our solidarity with everyone working in the Office of the Human Rights Defender. We want to thank all of them, as well as the departing Ombudsman, for their efforts to uphold human rights in Poland.

At the same time, we demand that the election of the new Ombudsman be held in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. We consider any attempts to appoint a person discharging the ombudsman duties bypassing the Sejm and Senate as circumvention of the provisions of the Constitution.

We ask the international community to monitor the actions of the ruling parliamentary majority in this regard.

Organization's signature list

1. Democracy Action

2. Archive of Osiatyński

3. OO Civic Control Center Foundation

4. Center for Social Initiatives in Gliwice

5. CRIS Social Initiative Development Center

6. Educational Foundation Roman Czernecki

7. Federation for Women and Family Planning

8. The Donors' Forum in Poland

9. Youth Union Forum

10. Foundation "Space for Education"

11. Foundation 360!

12. Foundation for Local Activity

13. Autonomia Foundation

14. Bęc Zmiana Foundation

15. Center Foundation prof. Bronisław Geremek

16. Foundation Center of Entrepreneurship and Innovation 50+

17. Chustka Foundation

18. The Silent Rainbow Foundation

19. ClientEarth Lawyers for Earth Foundation

20. Foundation for Poland

21. Dobra Wola Foundation

22. The House of Baudouin Foundation

23. Legal Education Foundation "Iustitia"

24. Ecological Foundation "Zielona Akcja"

25. Civic Development Forum Foundation

26. Responsible Business Forum Foundation

27. Frank Bold Foundation

28. The Deaf Zacisze Foundation

29. Foundation Stefan Batory

30. Foundation Jagoda Pachota

31. Liberal Culture Foundation

32. Znak Christian Culture Foundation

33. Liberte Foundation!

34. Machina Zmian Foundation

35. Lubartów Civic City Foundation

36. Mundus Cantat Foundation

37. MY Patients Foundation

38. Foundation for Student Rights

39. Foundation for Equality and Emancipation STER

40. Foundation for Free Thinkers

41. Foundation First Flat Poland

42. New Center Foundation

43. KARTA Center Foundation

44. Panoptykon Foundation

45. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Foundation

46. Patria Foundation

47. Foundation Full of Life

48. Pole Dialogu Foundation

49. Auxilium Foundation for Help for Disabled People and Children and Youth

50. Pomeranian Center for Psychotraumatology Foundation

51. Przemijanie Foundation

52. Res Publica Foundation

53. Rodzić po Ludzku Foundation

54. Rococo Foundation

55. Samodzielność od Kuchni Foundation

56. The Heart of the City Foundation

57. Shipyard Foundation

58. The School with Class Foundation

59. Trzy.org Foundation

60. W Stronę Dialogu Foundation

61. Faith and Rainbow Foundation

62. Freedom from Religion Foundation

63. WWF Poland Foundation

64. Community Fund of the Śnieżnik Massif

65. Greenpeace Poland

66. Ponton Group

67. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights

68. Civic initiative "We want all life!"

69. Institute of Public Affair

70. Janów Association for Carrying Help Humanus

71. Kalisz City Initiative

72. Campaign Against Homophobia

73. Committee for the Defense of Democracy

74. Krakow Institute of Criminal Law Foundation

75. Political Critique (Stanisław Brzozowski Association)

76. International Institute of Civil Society

77. Mussszelka

78. Citizens of Culture

79. Wielkopolska Branch of the Foster Parenting Association

80. National Federation of NGOs

81. National Women's Strike

82. "Open Republic" Association against Antisemitism and Xenophobia

83. Polish Foundation Robert Schuman

84. Polish Institute of Human and Business Rights

85. Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society, Żyrardów Branch

86. Consultative Council at the National Women's Strike

87. Civic Network Watchdog Polska

88. Siedlce Association for Helping People with Alzheimer's Disease

89. Amnesty International Association

90. Spring without Barriers Association

91. Cała Naprzód Association

92. Association for Social Dialogue

93. Homo Faber Association

94. Association for them. Prof. Zbigniew Hołda

95. Association for Legal Intervention

96. Klon / Jawor Association

97. The Women's Film Association

98. Better World Association

99. Association of Young Scientists

100. Association for LGBT People Tolerado

101. Our Imaginarium Association

102. NOMADA Association

103. Polish Education Association

104. Solidarity Square Association

105. Association TOGETHER FOR KONARZEWA

106. Association for the Development of the Kaliska Commune

107. Association for Rural Development in Śmiałowice

108. WIDER HORIZONS Association

109.  Association TAK Tricity Women's Action

110. Tarnowska Rospuda Association

111. Multicultural Association Krakow

112. Common Wójtowo Association

113. Association of West Pomeranian Tastes

114. Green Children Association

115. Świętokrzyskie Center for Social and Cultural Initiatives

116. Journalism Society

117. The Society of the Zalewska Land Lovers

118. Musical Society of Proszowice

119. Grand Coalition for Equality and Choice

120. Free Courts

121. Jewish Association Czulent