As the Human Rights Commissioner I wouldn't like get involved in the election campaign, nor in the pre-election games; I'm a civil servant who carries out his constitutional duties - said Poland's Human Rights Commissioner Adam Bodnar on Wednesday in the Sejm.
On Wednesday night, Adam Bodnar read out a report in the Sejm on the acitivity of the RPO and the state of freedom, as well as on human and civil rights in 2018.
The RPO stressed that was submitting his report in the peak of the election campaign. "As the commissioner I wouldn't like get involved in the election campaign, nor in the pre-election games. I only care about the protection and upholding of human rights, as well as civil rights and freedoms," he said. "Please don't treat me as an opponent or an ally in the election, and please don't use my yearly report instrumentally, as I'm a civil servant who carries out his constitutional duties," Bodnar underscored.
The commissioner included 15 concrete problems regarding civil rights and freedoms that require urgent solution. Among those problems there's the smog, burning of landfill sites, parental rights implementation, social exclusion, situation of people with disabilities and their caretakers, problem with violence at police stations.
The RPO also mentioned problem with access to council flats and their quality, lack of systemic solutions for homeless people. He also referred to the education reform, in particular, to problems with admissions and decreased quality of teaching. Furthermore, he drew attention to the necessity of introducing anti-discriminatory education.
Addressing Bodnar in the Sejm, Daniel Milewski (Law and Justice) said that when reading the RPO report he had been under the impression that "we're living, the commissioner and myself, in two separate worlds". He added that the commissioner's world was "plagued by lawlessness and growing threat to human and civil rights". "My Poland, on the other hand, is a country of free and responsible people. Their voice is heard, free and spoken out independently. They have the right to approve or disapprove of the government's policy," Law and Justice MP said.
Milewski underscore that the RPO "should be an impartial guarantor of our rights, staying away from politics". He added, however, that "the report and the actions prove otherwise". He also said that he didn't agree with "many statements and foregone conclusions the commissioner is making".
Civic Platform-Civic Coalition (PO-KO) MP Michał Szczerba said this to Bodnar: "You did not expect that you would have to fulfil your duties in such extreme times, when for the first time since regaining of independence, the government is questioning constitutional principles, destroying the separation of powers, brutally pushes and shoves, curbs civil rights and attacks independent institutions". "We're here to show you our utmost respect and to say that we stand behind you," he added. Monika Wielichowska (PO-KO) said "today we talk about the work of a spokesman for human issues, who protects ordinary people, educates and helps". In her opinion, the RPO "brings difficult cases to light, defends personal dignity, freedom, advocates equality and equal treatment". "However, his mission isn't an easy one. He is a burden for the government which destroys the constitution and treads on democracy," Wielichowska said.
Krzysztof Paszyk from Polish People's Party - Polish Coalition (PSL-KP) said that "the RPO report deserves consideration". He thanked Bodnar for his work. "This chamber seems to have forgotten that the commissioner doesn't belong to the oppostion, nor to the government, but he's a person standing above all what's happening here and looking at the rights and duties of all citizens. That's how it should be," Paszyk said.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
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