Poland remains an ethnically homogeneous country, however discrimination against minorities or migrants cannot be denied. There are cases of unjustified unequal treatment of the Roma or migrants in access to social aid, employment, healthcare, education or housing. Polish law forbids discrimination (direct, indirect, harassment) on the grounds of, e.g. race, ethnic origin and/or religion in different areas.

Clear
  • Anti-discrimination Legislation & Implementation

    The Polish Constitution forbids discrimination for any reason. The new antidiscrimination law, an Act on the Implementation of Certain Provisions of the EU on Equal Treatment contains a closed catalogue of possible grounds of discrimination. The Act sets up a minimum standard of the protection against unjustified unequal treatment which is not the same for everybody. Another problem is incorrect and incomplete implementation of the EU Directives.

  • Policing - Law Enforcement - Justice

    The issue of racism and discrimination is partially included in the trainings for future police officers. There are not any police professional associations that endorse anti-migrant/anti-minority agendas. Some immigrants report to the NGOs that they were mistreated by the police because of their ethnicity and the police is reluctant to investigate the racially motivated offences. The number of hate crimes may not be reported to law enforcement agencies or included in official statistics.

  • Employment

    Sometimes the National Labour Inspectorate or NGOs reveal isolated cases of discrimination against migrants, including in respect to wages. There are legal obstacles in access to employment in the public sector since the non-Poles can work there only on positions, where the tasks would not concern exercising public authority or protection of the interests of the state. The migrants can work in Poland if they obtain a work permit unless they are exempted of this obligation.

  • Housing & Segregation

    In general there is no segregation between minority groups and the majority population aside from several exceptions in southern Poland where Roma clusters are separated from the remainder of the locality. There are also areas that are inhabited primarily by some other national and ethnic minorities. The NGOs reported the examples of denial of housing for migrants and refugees (social or communal housing). It happens that the private landlords are reluctant to rent apartments to migrants.

    • Is there evidence of significant levels of segregation between migrant groups and the majority population?

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      There is no evidence of significant levels of segregation between migrant groups and the majority population.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • What is the ethnic origin of the highly segregated migrant group?

      No applicable.

      Qualitative Info

      No applicable.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of significant levels of segregation between minority groups and the majority population?

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      There is no evidence of significant levels of segregation between minority groups and the majority population aside from several exceptions in southern Poland where Roma clusters are separated from the remainder of the locality. Moreover, there are areas that are inhabited primarily by some other national and ethnic minorities (e.g. the Puńsk municipality by Lithuanians) what stems from tradition and historical processes.

       


      Dorota Hall, Agnieszka Mikulska, Thematic Study. Housing Conditions of Roma and Travellers. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Warsaw 2009.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Poland_en.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • What is the ethnic origin of the highly segregated minority group?

      Roma.

      Qualitative Info

      In southern Poland there are some Roma clusters separated from the remainder of the locality. Most Roma are dispersed throughout towns with populations of more than 10 000. This is the result of government policy in communist Poland, which quartered Roma in ways that would facilitate their assimilation. This was not always successful, as counties did not always have sufficient housing resources in various parts of a given locality. As a result, and also due to their own preferences – as the Roma sometimes desired an appropriate location for their horses – it happened that the Roma were settled near each other at the outskirts of towns. Over the years, some moved to other parts of the city, while the cities themselves expanded. Consequently, there are some large Roma communities/neighbourhoods, though clusters of several Roma homes are far more frequent.

       


      Dorota Hall, Agnieszka Mikulska, Thematic Study. Housing Conditions of Roma and Travellers. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Warsaw 2009.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Poland_en.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of majority driven segregation ("white flight" phenomenon)?

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      There is no evidence of majority driven segregation ("white flight" phenomenon). However, it does happen that non-Roma communities protest when the Roma move into their neighbourhood. In 2005, in the town of Szczecinek, protests erupted in the county office against the move of a Roma single mother with three children to a communal flat in another part of the town. In October 2008, 69 people signed a protest delivered to the chair of the city council in the town of Żary against plans to quarter Roma in social flats located on Szkolna Street. In early 2006, a conflict erupted between non-Roma and Roma residents of a social housing project on Roma Street in Puławy. A year prior, city officials housed Roma families and eight Polish families in a 78-flat building, as part of an integration programme. Four of the Polish families petitioned the city president to be moved, arguing that having the Roma as neighbours constituted an undue hardship. Some protests against establishing centres for refugees were also observed (among others in Łomża).

       


      Source: Dorota Hall, Agnieszka Mikulska, Thematic Study. Housing Conditions of Roma and Travellers. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Warsaw 2009.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Poland_en.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of denial of housing/housing rights for certain ethnic groups?

      NGOs report the examples of denial of social housings for migrants and refugees.

      Qualitative Info

      Some NGOs reported the examples of denial of housing/housing rights for migrants and refugees. It concerned especially these migrants who want to apply for social or communal housing. The problem of denial of housing/housing rights has not yet been thoroughly investigated and due to this fact it is not possible to assess the scale of this fenomen. There is not data regarding forced envictions.

       


      Source: Witold Klaus, Katarzyna Wencel, Discrimination against foreigners in Poland 2008-2010, Warsaw 2010.

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Asylum seekers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url http://www.interwencjaprawna.pl/docs/ARE-610-dyskryminacja-praktyka.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence that migrant/minority groups face especially serious problems in accessing housing of an acceptable quality?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      Large part of Roma minority lives in bad housing conditions. Some Roma residents lack running water, heating, electricity, washrooms or sewage. Financial shortfalls prevent periodic total renovations of flats as well as ongoing maintenance such as painting, removing fungus from walls, heating installation, ect. As a result, these dwellings remain in a terrible state of disrepair. Buildings erected without building permits are in the worst condition and some even violate the building code. Many Roma dwellings are overcrowded. The most dramatic housing situation is in southern Poland.

       


      Dorota Hall, Agnieszka Mikulska, Thematic Study. Housing Conditions of Roma and Travellers. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Warsaw 2009.
       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Poland_en.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Migrant or minority group which faces especially serious problems in accessing housing of an acceptable quality?

       Roma people lives in bad housing conditions.

      Qualitative Info

      Generally a lot of Roma people lives in bad housing conditions. However, the situation is different in particular regions and towns. The most dramatic housing situation is in southern Poland, especially in Roma settlements in the towns of Maszkowice, Koszary and Krośnica.


      Source: Dorota Hall, Agnieszka Mikulska, Thematic Study. Housing Conditions of Roma and Travellers. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Warsaw 2009.

      http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Poland_en.pdf

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Poland_en.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of particular difficulties faced by migrant/minority groups in purchasing or renting property of their choice?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      For several years now experts and NGO staff have been drawing attention to the fact that landlords are reluctant to rent apartments to migrants. Some of them demand higher fees from immigrants than from Poles. There are cases where the owners simply say they do not want to rent the apartments to foreigners, but there are currently no studies clearly indicating to what extent this is the result of discrimination and to what extent the landlords’ ‘economic calculations’.

      Because of financial reason Roma cannot afford to rent or purchase their own homes at market prices. There are no data suggesting the Roma’s access to private housing was limited by factors other than lack of affordability.
       


      Sources:

      Wysieńska, K., Ryabińska, N. (2010), Bezdomność uchodźców w Polsce – wyniki badania pilotażowego, Instytut Spraw Publicznych, Warszawa 2010.

      Dorota Hall, Agnieszka Mikulska, Thematic Study. Housing Conditions of Roma and Travellers. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Warsaw 2009.
       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url www.isp.org.pl/uploads/pdf/246292626.pdf , http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Poland_en.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Affected group with particular difficulties in purchasing or renting property of own choice

      Roma and refugees from Chechenia face problem in purchasing or renting property.

      Qualitative Info

      The problem of access of immigrants to housing seems to have the most painful impact on refugees (which are mainly Chechens), especially in the case of single mothers and families with many children faced particularly by. According to expert`s estimates, homelessness affects 20–30% of the refugees.

      The second affected group is Roma community. Due to the lack of the money they cannot afford to rent or purchase their own homes at market prices. The low and irregular incomes of the Roma mean they have problems paying rent for flats, even when renting at relatively low prices. This is why they generally reside in communal housing (sometimes these are social housing); estimates are that about 80% live in communal homes and 20% own their own flats or houses.

       


      Sources:

      Wysieńska, K., Ryabińska, Bezdomność uchodźców w Polsce – wyniki badania pilotażowego, Instytut Spraw Publicznych, Warszawa 2010.

      Dorota Hall, Agnieszka Mikulska, Thematic Study. Housing Conditions of Roma and Travellers. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Warsaw 2009.
       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Asylum seekers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url www.isp.org.pl/uploads/pdf/246292626.pdf, http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RAXEN-Roma%20Housing-Poland_en.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
  • Education

    Among the national and ethnic minorities only the Roma stand out from the rest of society with regard to their situation in the field of education. The governmental Programme for the Roma Community includes an “Education” component as its priority. Students belonging to national and ethnic minorities may obtain education in their native language. There are positive initiatives designed to solve problems of discrimination, racism or xenophobia in schools carried out by NGOs.

    • Practical obstacles and evidence of problems and differential enrollment rates for certain minorities?

      82 % of Roma childern attands schools.

      Qualitative Info

      In 2011, in comparison to the previous year, the ratio of school attendance of Roma children  grew slightly – from 72,8% in 2010 up to 74,4% in 2011. In the context of the whole country the number of Roma children subject to schooling duty increased about 8,7% on average. However, among national and ethnic minorities the Roma still stand out from the rest of society with regard to their situation in the field of education.


      Source:

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      External Url http://www.mswia.gov.pl/portal/pl/566/9139/Sprawozdanie_z_realizacji_Programu_na_rzecz_spolecznosci_romskiej_w_Polsce_za_ro.html

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Practical obstacles and evidence of problems and differential enrollment rates for migrants?

      Qualitative Info

      There is no data showing practical obstacles and evidence of problems and differential enrollment rates for migrants.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Poorer educational performance by certain groups?

      Learning outcomes of Roma chidren are still rather poor.

      Qualitative Info

      Learning outcomes of Roma chidren are rather poor - the point average oscillating between 2 and 3 on a scale of 1–6 (1 is lowest grade - negative) [1].

      In 2011, several voivodeships witnessed the improvement of results in education, yet the growth is slight enough to make objective evaluation difficult.


      Source:

      1. Ministry of Interior and Administration, 23.05.20111, Sprawozdanie z realizacji Programu na Rzecz Społeczności Romskiej za rok 2010, (Report on the realization of the Programme for the Roma Community in 2011), http://www.msw.gov.pl/portal/pl/566/9139/Sprawozdanie_z_realizacji_Programu_na_rzecz_spolecznosci_romskiej_w_Polsce_za_ro.html, Accessed on 11.11.2011.
      2. Ministry of Administration and Digitization, 31.05.2012, Sprawozdanie z realizacji Programu na Rzecz Społeczności Romskiej za rok 2011 (Report on the realization of the Programme for the Roma Community in 2011), http://www.msw.gov.pl/portal/pl/628/Program_na_rzecz_spolecznosci_romskiej_w_Polsce_w_2011_r.html, Accessed on 12.12.2012

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      External Url http://www.mswia.gov.pl/portal/pl/566/9139/Sprawozdanie_z_realizacji_Programu_na_rzecz_spolecznosci_romskiej_w_Polsce_za_ro.html

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Problems with educational attainement by certain groups (drop out - fragmentation of educational experience)?

      School attendance of Roma children is around 75%, which is lower then avarage.

      Qualitative Info

      School attendance of Roma children is around 75%, which is lower then avarage.

      In 2011, the ratio of school attendance of Roma children was 74,4%, which is lower then average [1].

      Another problem is exercising migrant minorities' right to education during their stay in a guarded centre since they do not have any classes provided in the centres nor they are driven to nearby schools. According to the Polish Constitution, all children under 18 years  of age staying within the territory of the Republic of Poland are subject to schooling duty, no matter what their legal status is, including foreign children, whether they are staying in Poland legally or not. The monitoring conducted by the NGOs shows yet that the right to education is virtually not exercised at guarded centres at all [2].


      Source:

       

      1. Poland/ Ministry of Administration and Digitization, Report on the realization of the Programme for the Roma Community in 2011 (Sprawozdanie z realizacji Programu na Rzecz Społeczności Romskiej za rok 2011), Warsaw 2012
      2. Association for Legal Intervention, The observance of the foreigners’ rights in guarded centres. Monitoring report, Warsaw 2011, Association for Legal Intervention and the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Migration is not a crime, Warsaw 2012, www.interwencjaprawna.pl

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Asylum seekers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      External Url http://www.mswia.gov.pl/portal/pl/566/9139/Sprawozdanie_z_realizacji_Programu_na_rzecz_spolecznosci_romskiej_w_Polsce_za_ro.html

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are there positive initiatives to improve/support poor educational provision for migrant and minority groups?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      The governmental, nationwide Programme for the Roma Community includes an “Education” component as its priority. In the framework of this Programme different solutions are being implemented to support and improve the education of Roma children. They include, among others, employing Roma education assistants and supporting teachers, psychological and pedagogical programmes for children and parents, organisation of compensatory courses and recreational and leisure activities.

       


      Source: Poland / Ministry of Interior and Administration, Sprawozdanie z realizacji Programu na Rzecz Społeczności Romskiej za rok 2010, Warszawa 2011

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      External Url http://www.mswia.gov.pl/portal/pl/566/9139/Sprawozdanie_z_realizacji_Programu_na_rzecz_spolecznosci_romskiej_w_Polsce_za_ro.html

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Victimisation in schools (bullying/harassment/racist violence) ?

      Yes/No

      Qualitative Info

      The problem of victimisation in schools has not yet been thoroughly investigated. The experience of NGOs shows that there are cases of conflicts between Polish and foreign children where there is a larger group of foreign children. These cases involved for example schools attended by children from the centre for refugees. In schools attended by individual migrant children, there are cases of persecution of these children (especially those distinctive in appearance), including also acts of violence. There is no data providing an opportunity to estimate the scale of this phenomenon; however, it does not appear to be escalated.

       


      Sources:

      N. Bloch et al., Od gości do sąsiadów. Integracja cudzoziemców spoza Unii Europejskiej w Poznaniu w edukacji, na rynku pracy i opiece zdrowotnej, Poznań,  Centrum Badań Migracyjnych UAM, 2010.

      N. Bloch et al., Cudzoziemcy w Poznaniu: praca, zdrowie, edukacja, Poznań: Centrum Badań Migracyjnych UAM, 2010.

      Agnieszka Mikulska, Rasizm w Polsce. Raport z badań wśród osób, które doświadczyły przemocy ze względu na swoje pochodzenie etniczne,  rasowe lub narodowe, Helsińska Fundacja Praw Człowieka, Warszawa 2010.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Asylum seekers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      External Url http://www.cebam.amu.edu.pl/images/stories/raportefi/raportefi.pdf, http://www.hf.org.pl/raporty/rasizm_w_polsce.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Provision of option to learn mother language other than the majority's

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      Recognized by law national and ethnic minorities have the right to establish their own educational and cultural institutions as well as those that serve to protect their religious identity and participate in resolution of cultural identity issues. Public schools enable students to maintain their national, ethnic, language and religious identities, in particular, through the study of language and their own history and culture. Students belonging to national and ethnic minorities receive essentially the same education as other children. However, in accordance with applicable law, they may obtain education in their native language or additionally study the minority language, history, geography and culture. Such education is organized on a discretionary basis, meaning the school director is obligated to organize it when minority parents or students declare interest therein.  The form of the education desired is presented when filing a declaration of interest.  Polish law provides for the following possibilities:
      a) schools and preschools with the native language as the language of instruction,
      b) bilingual schools and preschools,
      c) schools with supplementary education of the native language for members of the minority,
      d) interscholastic sections with supplementary education of the native language for members of the minority.


      In the year 2010, the following minorities exercised these rights: Belarusians, Lithuanians, Germans, Armenians, Russians, Slovaks, Ukrainians, Jews, Lemkos. The most popular form of organized minority education is schools with supplementary study of the native language. Education of national and ethnic minorities is financed through the state budget.

      The above regulations apply to national and ethnic minorities as well as to the community using regional language, but not to migrants.

       


      Source: Act as of 7 September 1991 r. on  System of Education (Dz.U. 1991 nr 95 poz. 425)

      Groups affected/interested

      • Ethnic minorities
      • Linguistic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      External Url http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU19910950425

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Evidence of school segregation and/or policies of separate/distinct schooling of migrants

      There is no evidence of segregation and/or policies of distinct schooling of migrants.

      Qualitative Info

      There is no evidence of segregation and/or policies of distinct schooling of migrants.

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Evidence of school segregation and/or policies of separate/distinct schooling of minorities

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      The concept of creating separate classes for Roma children appeared in Poland in the 1990s. Their aim was to encourage the Roma to gain an education. In practice, it turned out that they result in lowering the level of teaching in these classes and to discrimination and exclusion. Therefore, since the first half of the 2000s, there has been a gradual abolishment of Roma classes. In 2008, the Minister of Education announced the liquidation of the last few classes that existed in this period.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education
      See other countriesSee indicator history
  • Health And Social Protection

    The Roma minority is considered more vulnerable to various diseases in comparison with the rest of society. Higher morbidity and higher mortality is caused a.o. by the problems of economic nature and the non-use of public healthcare.. Not all groups of migrants have the same access to the social protection system and benefits, it depends on their legal status in Poland. Migrant and minority women encounter particular obstacles while accessing and receiving effective healthcare services.

  • Political & Civic Participation

    Only Polish and the EU citizens and who permanently reside in Poland have the right to vote and stand in/for the elections. The third country nationals are not entitled to do so. They have the right to assembly and associate in social organisations, trade unions and employers organisations, to set up and join foundations or to join political parties. There is the Common Commission of the Government and National and Ethnic Minorities, a consultative body established by law.

  • Public Life, Culture, Sport & Media

    According to Polish law foreigners residing in Poland may join together to form associations in accordance with the rules applicable to Polish citizens. There are no legal obstacles for minorities to exercise and manifest their religion and belief. Public media are required to account for the needs of minorities, however the respective laws are sometimes being implemented defectively. Racist incidents are rare in most sports, except for football.

    • Is self-identification of individuals/groups a criterion for recognition and respect of minority or ethnic cultural linguistic religious groups' rights by the state/government?

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      In Polish law, a national minority is defined as a group of Polish citizens that collectively meets the following conditions: it is less in number than the remainder of the Polish population; it differs in a significant manner from other citizens by language, culture and tradition; it seeks to maintain its language, tradition and culture; it is conscious of its own historic national community and is inclined to express and protect it; has resided in the Republic of Poland for at least 100 years; and, it identifies with the nation organised in its own state. The definition of the ethnic minority is the same as the definition of the national minority except that the ethnic minority does not identify with a nation organised in its own state. This means that self-identification is not a sufficient enough criterion to be recognized as ethnic or national minority and, consequently, enjoy minority’s rights. For many years, Silesians have been unsuccessfully demanding recognition as a minority, even though in the 2002 census 173 thousand people declared Silesian nationality (experts on ethnic issues are not unanimous on whether it is actually possible to consider Silesians a minority). Due to the above legal definitions, migrant groups also cannot be treated as ethnic / national minorities.

      According to the Act on National and Ethnic Minorities and Regional Language recognized national/ethnic minorities include Belarusians, Czechs, Lithuanians, Germans, Armenians, Russians, Slovaks, Ukrainians, Jews, the Roma, Lemkos, Karaims and Tatars. Kashebe are recognized as a group using regional language and enjoy the same linguistic rights as minorities.

       


      Source: Act on National and Ethnic Minorities and Regional Language, Poland (Dz. U. 2005/17/141).

      Groups affected/interested

      • Ethnic minorities
      • Linguistic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Daily life

      External Url http://msw.gov.pl/portal/pl/178/2958/Ustawa_o_mniejszosciach_narodowych_i_etnicznych_oraz_o_jezyku_regionalnym.html

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Association: are there restrictions of the freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association for migrants

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      According to the Law on Associations, the right to establish associations is granted to Polish citizens having full legal capacity and not deprived of public rights. Foreigners residing in Poland may join together to form associations in accordance with the rules applicable to Polish citizens. However, foreigners not having residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland may join associations, whose statutes provide for such a possibility (Polish law does not use the term migrant). There is a number of migrant associations operating in Poland.
      In accordance with Polish law, anyone can enjoy the freedom of peaceful assembly. The Act on the right to assembly does not provide for exceptions in this regard due to the given person’s origin or nationality.

       


      Sources:

      Act of 7 April 1989 Law on Associations

      Act of July 5, 1990 Law on Assemblies


       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Culture
      • Daily life

      External Url http://lex.pl/serwis/du/2001/0855.htm, http://lex.pl/bap/student/Dz.U.1990.51.297.html

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Association: are there restrictions of the of the freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association for minorities

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      Minorities enjoy the freedom of assembly and freedom of association to an equal extent as other Polish citizens, because according to the Polish law national/ethnic minorities are defined as groups of Polish citizens that collectively meet the following conditions: it is less in number than the remainder of the Polish population; it differs in a significant manner from other citizens by language, culture and tradition; it seeks to maintain its language, tradition and culture; it is conscious of its own historic national community and is inclined to express and protect it; has resided in the Republic of Poland for at least 100 years.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Ethnic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Culture
      • Daily life
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Religion: Persons belonging to minorities face legal and practical obstacles in exercising or manifesting their religion or belief?

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      There are no legal obstacles for minorities to exercise and manifest their religion and belief. According to the Polish law, national/ethnic minorities are defined as groups of Polish citizens that collectively meet the following conditions: it is less in number than the remainder of the Polish population; it differs in a significant manner from other citizens in terms of language, culture and tradition; it seeks to maintain its language, tradition and culture; it is conscious of its own historic national community and is inclined to express and protect it; it has resided in the Republic of Poland for at least 100 years. Being citizens, minorities enjoy the freedom of religion and belief to an equal extent as Polish citizens. In practice though, minorities draw attention to problems appearing from time to time, for example, related to taking days off from work and school during the period of religious holidays.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Religion
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Media: Are there positive measures for promoting or restrictions for Migrant and minority media?

      Public media (radio and tv) are required to account for the needs of minorities, including broadcasting information programmes in minority languages.

      Qualitative Info

      Public media (radio and tv) are required to account for the needs of minorities, including broadcasting information programmes in minority languages. Minority language programming or content about minorities are broadcast in certain sections of regional Polish state television (TVP 3) in areas with minority populations. There are also three private radio stations broadcasting for minorities - Radio Racja (for Belarusians), Radio Kaszebe (for Kashubians), Radio Vanesa (for Germans). However, the respective laws are sometimes being implemented defectively: minority programming is broadcast during low point hours and on the selected local channels only (thus being unavailable for the minority members living outside a given area). In 2010, some television stations reduced the air time available for minority programming by as much as 50 per cent. Several programmes are facing the threat of termination due to the lack of financial resources. The minorities are not satisfied with their actual capacity to make use of the public media. The issue has been much discussed at meetings of The Joint Commission of the Government and National and Ethnic Minorities: the minorities objections concern both organisation and content-related problems and the cooperation with local TV stations. Apart from this, minority’s magazines (in minority language) are subsidized by the state budget. (in 2010, 36 minority’s magazines received financial support)

      The above regulations apply only to national and ethnic minorities. There are no regulations concerning migrants, in the sense of the existence of any restrictions or positive measures. In practice, the creation of materials dealing with the subject matter of migrants or multiculturalism depends on the the good will of editors or individual journalists. At this point one should note that the degree of the implementation of the public media tasks described in the National Programme Against Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance 2004-2009 was so low that in the final report the objective of these tasks was considered unattained. From this one can conclude that the media’s interest in this subject matter is insignificant.

       


      Sources:

      Ministry of Interior, Raport dla Sekretarza Generalnego Rady Europy z realizacji przez Rzeczpospolitą Polską postanowień Europejskiej karty języków regionalnych lub mniejszościowych

      Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Second Opinion on Poland, adopted on 20 March 2009

      Act on Radio and Television (Dz. U. 1993/7/34)

      Groups affected/interested

      • Ethnic minorities
      • Linguistic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Culture
      • Media

      External Url http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_fcnmdocs/PDF_2nd_OP_Poland_en.pdf , http://www.msw.gov.pl/portal/pl/238/3497/Ustawa_o_radiofonii_i_telewizji.html

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    • Media: Are there positive measures for promoting or restrictions for minority and lesser used language in the media?

      Public media (radio and tv) are required to account for the needs of minorities, including broadcasting information programmes in minority languages.

      Qualitative Info

      Public media (radio and tv) are required to account for the needs of minorities, including broadcasting information programmes in minority languages. Minority language programming or content about minorities are broadcast in certain sections of regional Polish state television (TVP 3) and radio in areas with minority populations. There are also three private radio stations broadcasting for minorities (Radio Racja for Belarusians, Radio Kaszebe for Kashubians, Radio Vanesa for Germans). However, the respective laws are sometimes being implemented defectively: minority programming is broadcast during low point hours and on the selected local channels only (thus being unavailable for the minority members living outside a given area). Apart from this, minority’s magazines (in minority language) are subsidized by the state budget (in 2010, 36 minority’s magazines received financial support).

      The above regulations apply only to national and ethnic minorities; there are no regulations concerning the languages spoken by migrants.

       


      Sources:
      Act on Radio and Television,  (Dz. U. 1993/7/34)

      Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Second Opinion on Poland, adopted on 20 March 2009, http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_fcnmdocs/PDF_2nd_OP_Poland_en.pdf
       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Ethnic minorities
      • Linguistic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Culture
      • Media

      External Url http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_fcnmdocs/PDF_2nd_OP_Poland_en.pdf, http://www.msw.gov.pl/portal/pl/238/3497/Ustawa_o_radiofonii_i_telewizji.html

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    • Sport: Effective participation of migrants in sport

      It is difficult to assess effective participation of migrants in sport activities as only few migrants permanently reside in Poland.There are no studies or reports devoted to the issue of effective participation of migrants in sport.

      Qualitative Info

      It is difficult to assess effective participation of migrants in sport activities as only few migrants permanently reside in Poland.There are no studies or reports devoted to the issue of effective participation of migrants in sport. Majority of the foreigners come to work and stay in Poland for a relatively short time with only some of them deciding to settle down in the country. The number of second generation migrants is scanty which results from the nature of the long-standing communist system which curtailed the inflow of foreigners. Accordingly, participation of migrants in many sports is practically unnoticeable. There are, however, persons arriving in Poland as players engaged by certain clubs. They come from various countries of Africa, as well as Brazil, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Most competitors of a non-Polish origin can be found in team sports such as basketball, and, above all, football. Foreign sportspersons are sometimes victims of racism, in particular football racism, which is quite visible in Poland.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Sport
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    • Sport: Effective participation of minorities in sport

      The lifestyle of ethnic and national minorities and their participation in sports activities do not differ from what is typical of the remaining part of the society.

      Qualitative Info

      The lifestyle of ethnic and national minorities and their participation in sports activities do not differ from what is typical of the remaining part of the society. An exception to that principle are the Roma who, due to a lower standard of living, have more limited access to the cultural goods, including sports. Central and local government authorities act for improvement of their situation. As a part of the governmental Programme for the Roma Community in Poland which has been implemented since 2004 various extracurricular sport activities for the Roma children are organised at schools. Such actions aim at involving the young Roma into a school life and enabling them more effective integration with other children.

       


      Source: Ministry of Interior, Programme for the Roma Community in Poland

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers
      • Ethnic minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Sport

      External Url http://www.mswia.gov.pl/palm/en/10/55/Programme_for_the_Roma_community_in_Poland.html

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