Polish Ombudsman

Polish Ombudsman's Office at 77 „Solidarnośc” Avenue in Warsaw

The Polish Ombudsman (Polish: Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich, literally Advocate for Citizens' Rights, now referring to itself in English as the "Commissioner for Human Rights" and earlier as the "Human Rights Defender," often abbreviated RPO) is an independent central office of the Republic of Poland. The office was first established on January 1, 1988. Its functioning is regulated by the Constitution and an act of Polish parliament (Sejm) from July 15, 1987. The office is accredited as Poland's national human rights institution.

Responsibilities and powers of the Polish Ombudsman

Polish law entrusts the ombudsman with four responsibilities with respect to citizen rights:

• prevention
• diagnosis
• monitoring
• creativity

The ombudsman, deputies and the office protect freedom and rights of the people. They monitor current events. In case they find that due to intentional actions (or lack thereof) by agencies, organizations or institutions which are duty bound to respect freedoms and rights of the people, these freedoms and rights were violated, they undertake action. In such cases, they can act on behalf of the people in courts. The office can undertake such actions only if a thorough analysis of the situation shows that the rights or the freedoms of the people were infringed, and only if such analysis recognizes the need for the ombudsman to be involved in a case. The people have right to ask the ombudsman for intervention.

Election, recall and term of office

• The ombudsman is elected by an act of Sejm and has to be accepted by the Senate.
• The term of office is five years long and the same person cannot hold the office more than twice.
• Sejm has the right to recall the ombudsman with a 3/5 majority before the end of term.

The Polish law doesn't provide for an interim office in case the term. The incumbent Ombusdman can thus remain in office until a new one has been appointed.

List of Polish Ombudsmen

• Ewa Łętowska (1 January 1988 – 13 February 1992)
• Tadeusz Zieliński (14 February 1992 – 8 May 1996)
• Adam Zieliński (9 May 1996 – 30 June 2000)
• Andrzej Zoll (31 June 2000 – 15 February 2006)
• Janusz Kochanowski (16 February 2006 – 10 April 2010) (died in office as a result of the Smolensk air disaster)
• Stanisław Trociuk (11 April 2010 - 20 July 2010)
• Irena Lipowicz (21 July 2010 – 9 September 2015)
• Adam Bodnar (9 September 2015 - 15 April 2021)
• TBA (no agreement between both houses yet)

External links

• Official site (in English)