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Statement regarding the hostile takeover of the office of the Ombudsman by the ruling parliamentary majority


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