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
Democracy Action
Archive of Osiatyński
OO Civic Control Center Foundation
Center for Social Initiatives in Gliwice
CRIS Social Initiative Development Center
Educational Foundation Roman Czernecki
Federation for Women and Family Planning
The Donors' Forum in Poland
Youth Union Forum
Foundation "Space for Education"
Foundation 360!
Foundation for Local Activity
Autonomia Foundation
Bęc Zmiana Foundation
Center Foundation prof. Bronisław Geremek
Foundation Center of Entrepreneurship and Innovation 50+
Chustka Foundation
The Silent Rainbow Foundation
ClientEarth Lawyers for Earth Foundation
Foundation for Poland
Dobra Wola Foundation
The House of Baudouin Foundation
Legal Education Foundation "Iustitia"
Ecological Foundation "Zielona Akcja"
Civic Development Forum Foundation
Responsible Business Forum Foundation
Frank Bold Foundation
The Deaf Zacisze Foundation
Foundation Stefan Batory
Foundation Jagoda Pachota
Liberal Culture Foundation
Znak Christian Culture Foundation
Liberte Foundation!
Machina Zmian Foundation
Lubartów Civic City Foundation
Mundus Cantat Foundation
MY Patients Foundation
Foundation for Student Rights
Foundation for Equality and Emancipation STER
Foundation for Free Thinkers
Foundation First Flat Poland
New Center Foundation
KARTA Center Foundation
Panoptykon Foundation
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Foundation
Patria Foundation
Foundation Full of Life
Pole Dialogu Foundation
Auxilium Foundation for Help for Disabled People and Children and Youth
Pomeranian Center for Psychotraumatology Foundation
Przemijanie Foundation
Res Publica Foundation
Rodzić po Ludzku Foundation
Rococo Foundation
Samodzielność od Kuchni Foundation
The Heart of the City Foundation
Shipyard Foundation
The School with Class Foundation
Trzy.org Foundation
W Stronę Dialogu Foundation
Faith and Rainbow Foundation
Freedom from Religion Foundation
WWF Poland Foundation
Community Fund of the Śnieżnik Massif
Greenpeace Poland
Ponton Group
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights
Civic initiative "We want all life!"
Institute of Public Affair
Janów Association for Carrying Help Humanus
Kalisz City Initiative
Campaign Against Homophobia
Committee for the Defense of Democracy
Krakow Institute of Criminal Law Foundation
Political Critique (Stanisław Brzozowski Association)
International Institute of Civil Society
Mussszelka
Citizens of Culture
Wielkopolska Branch of the Foster Parenting Association
National Federation of NGOs
National Women's Strike
"Open Republic" Association against Antisemitism and Xenophobia
Polish Foundation Robert Schuman
Polish Institute of Human and Business Rights
Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society, Żyrardów Branch
Consultative Council at the National Women's Strike
Civic Network Watchdog Polska
Siedlce Association for Helping People with Alzheimer's Disease
Amnesty International Association
Spring without Barriers Association
Cała Naprzód Association
Association for Social Dialogue
Homo Faber Association
Association for them. Prof. Zbigniew Hołda
Association for Legal Intervention
Klon / Jawor Association
The Women's Film Association
Better World Association
Association of Young Scientists
Association for LGBT People Tolerado
Our Imaginarium Association
NOMADA Association
Polish Education Association
Solidarity Square Association
Association TOGETHER FOR KONARZEWA
Association for the Development of the Kaliska Commune
Association for Rural Development in Śmiałowice
WIDER HORIZONS Association
Association TAK Tricity Women's Action
Tarnowska Rospuda Association
Multicultural Association Krakow
Common Wójtowo Association
Association of West Pomeranian Tastes
Green Children Association
Świętokrzyskie Center for Social and Cultural Initiatives
Journalism Society
The Society of the Zalewska Land Lovers
Musical Society of Proszowice
Grand Coalition for Equality and Choice
Free Courts
Jewish Association Czulent