“A judgment in Strasbourg is not the end!” Report on the execution of judgement of the European Court of Human Rights
The HFHR has published a report on the execution of judgement of the European Court of Human Rights. The publication included many ECtHR judgments that refer to issues relevant to freedom and human rights.
27.11.2018more
„To Luxembourg instead of Strasbourg?” A report on the role of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the protection of human rights
The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has published the report „To Luxembourg instead of to Strasbourg?” by dr. Piotr Kładoczny, Marcin Szwed and Katarzyna Wiśniewska, in which the EU system of protection of individual rights is discussed. The publication presents many judgments of the CJEU of recent years, that concern matters relevant to freedom and […]
18.10.2018more
A road to nowhere
On 2-5 October 2016, we conducted a monitoring visit as representatives of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in order to investigate the situation at the Brześć-Terespol (Brest-Terespol) border crossing between Belarus and Poland. The purpose of our monitoring was threefold: (1) Uncovering the general situation of those of the foreign nationals present in Brest […]
10.11.2016more
A tool of the government. The functioning of the Polish Constitutional Court in 2016-2021
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights published a report on the functioning of the Constitutional Court. The report describes the work of the Constitutional Court in years 2016-2021. The report “Tool in the hands of the government. The functioning of the Constitutional Court in 2016-2021. ” is the HFHR’s third report documenting the work of the Constitutional Court. Year of publication: 2021 Authors: Małgorzata Szuleka, Marcin […]
15.09.2021more
Applying for international protection: My rights and obligations EN/AR/UA
English, Arabic and Ukrainian version
10.11.2016more
Business, Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights published the report Poland: Business, Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law, prepared in cooperation with the American Bar Association, the main objective of which was to highlight the impact of legal and policy changes introduced by the governing majority since its coming to power in 2015 on conducting business […]
19.02.2021more
Destructions in Donbas
The occupied territories constitute approximately one third of the entire territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.
10.03.2017more
Disciplinary proceedings against judges and prosecutors
Since 2015, Poland has been facing an ongoing constitutional crisis which affects the work and position of the judiciary. The numerous legal changes concerning the work of the courts (from top-rank courts such as the Constitutional Tribunal and the Supreme Court to common courts) as well as prosecution were accompanied by smear campaigns and attacks […]
12.02.2019more
Education and Work for Foreigners in Poland – a guide EN/RU/UA
This publication aims to be your step-by-step practical guide on the education and work for foreigners in Poland.
20.10.2017more
Executed and tortured in Donbas
The armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk has caused not only significant casualties and great economic losses, but also systematic and mass grave human rights violations in the climate of total impunity.
13.03.2017more
Family Reunification of Foreigners in Poland
Date of publication: 2016 Editor: Agnieszka Mikulska-Jolles
10.11.2016more
Freedom of movement
Since the beginning of military aggression of Russia in 2014, Ukraine faced numerous atypical problems, which had never had a place in peaceful Ukraine. Obstacles on freedom of movement are one of the major issues for the population of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.
10.03.2017more
Health care facilities in the ATO zone
International law restricts the use of authorised weapons and warfare methods: it is prohibited to attack and to bombard undefended towns, housing and buildings and, in particular, hospitals, if those buildings are not used for military purposes. It is also prohibited to employ weapons, missiles, material and methods of warfare which may cause excessive harm […]
10.03.2017more
HFHR’s report: The Time of Trial. How do changes in justice system affect Polish judges?
Changes in justice system introduced over the last four years are used, to a large extent, to increase pressure on judges, the HFHR’s study “The Time of Trial. How do changes in justice system affect Polish judges?” shows. The study identified five main forms of the pressure currently being exerted on judges: attempts to influence […]
22.11.2019more
Human Rights in Strategic Litigation – 2018 report
The report presents activities undertaken by the HFHR’s Strategic Litigation Programme in 2018.
09.01.2019more
Human rights of persons deprived of liberty – report
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights decided to present its observations on the current situation of persons deprived of liberty in Poland.
30.05.2017more
Human rights violations in the LNR/DNR
The Russian aggression led to the establishment of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (“LNR”) and Donetsk People’s Republic (“DNR”). The quasi-states of LNR and DNR have already created their quasi-regulatory frameworks. What continues to be an important task is further information search and documentation of extraordinary human rights violations which took place in the years […]
13.03.2017more
Improving Prison Conditions by Strengthening the Monitoring of HIV, HCV, TB and Harm Reduction
Improving Prison Conditions by Strengthening the Monitoring of HIV, HCV, TB and Harm. Reduction Mapping Report Poland
10.11.2016more
Information on the recent challenges faced by human rights defenders and civil society in Poland
Overview of challenges faced by human rights defenders and civil society Prepared for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
06.12.2016more
Inside Police Custody – Procedural Rights at Police Stations
Inside Police Custody – Procedural Rights at Police Stations State report – Poland
25.01.2019more
Involvement of children in armed formations during the military conflict in Donbas
The armed conflict in the east of Ukraine has significantly increased the risk of children participation in armed formations.
10.03.2017more
It starts with the personnel
In 2017 the Ministry of Justice announced a plan to reform the justice system. The July 2017 amendments to the Law on the System of Common Courts, presented as part of this plan, provoked various concerns in the legal community, and prompted mass public protests. One of the most controversial regulations of the new act […]
18.07.2018more
Landmark Human Rights Cases 2017
The report “Landmark Human Rights Cases 2017” contains a summary of the activities of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights undertaken as part of strategic litigation. It contains a list of precedent decisions of national and international bodies that were made in 2017. A separate chapter was also devoted to the proceedings that can be […]
14.11.2018more
Media online archives – a source for historical research or a threat to privacy?
The digital revolution brought about a change for media archives, from limited accessibility and obscurity of paper publications to long-term and wide accessibility of online information.
12.05.2017more
Missing persons
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, more than 1,000 people went missing during the armed conflict in Ukraine. The fourteenth report of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine OHCHR referred to 3,687 criminal proceedings ex post regarding missing persons in the Luhansk or Donetsk Oblasts. According to the data of […]
13.03.2017more
My lawyer, My Rights
The HFHR has published a report prepared as part of the European project “My lawyer, my Rights” designed to map children access to a defence lawyer in juvenile justice proceedings and criminal proceedings.
17.10.2017more
NGOs report on the application of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 2015
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10.11.2016more
Places of illegal detention
The armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine led to numerous gross and systemic violations of human rights on the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in particular the establishment of a network of illegal detention places by Ukrainian army and Russia-backed separatists.
10.03.2017more
Poland: Independence of public service media
Poland: Independence of public service media
08.02.2017more
Pre-trial detention in Poland – research report 2015
As of 31 October 2015, 4 356 people remain in prisons as pre-trial detainees in Poland. At the same time, the overall prison population in the country amounts to 72 195. This means that pre-trial detainees constitute 6.0 per cent of all detainees. Even though this percentage seems low and the number of motions for […]
10.11.2016more
Preliminary references in the area of human rights. A Practical Handbook for Judges
The Handbook is intended to be a practical guide for legal practitioners, in particular judges, as well as for collaborators working with bodies of the justice system, including non-governmental organisations involved in handling litigation. It is principally designed to describe, in practical terms, the nature of the preliminary reference (also known as “a reference for […]
01.03.2019more
Pushed Back at the Door
Pushed Back at the Door: Denial of Access to Asylum in Eastern EU Member States
25.01.2017more
Racism & Discrimination in Employment in Europe 2013-2017
Despite anti-discrimination laws, ethnic and religious minorities and migrants continue to face racial discrimination when looking for a job and in the workplace, according to a new report by the European Network Against Racism (ENAR). Women of colour are disproportionately affected, as a result of the intersection of race, gender and class.
22.03.2018more
Refugee status and subsidiary protection in Poland: Next steps EN/AR/UA
English, Arabic and Ukrainian version
10.11.2016more
Report on the implementation of judgements of the European Court of Human Rights in Poland
Although the HFHR acknowledges the efforts of the Polish Government to implement judgments of the ECtHR, it also recognizes that, according to the statistics of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the end of 2015 more than 300 cases were pending before the ECtHR.
14.03.2017more
Republic of Fear: HFHR’s report on human rights abuses in Chechnya
The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has launched the report Republic of fear. Human rights in modern-day Chechnya. The document describes the situation of Chechen asylum-seekers in their home country, providing what is known as the “Country of Origin Information” (COI). The document is based on interviews with experts and public domain sources of information […]
22.11.2019more
Rights of children with mental disability
Innovating European lawyers to advance the rights of children with disabilities.
11.12.2017more
Rights of persons deprived of liberty. Fundamental legal and practical issues – report 2018
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has decided to once again present its observations regarding the current situation in detention facilities. We hope these observations will constitute a reliable source of information.
18.07.2018more
Shadow report to the Committee against Torture 2018 – Tajikistan
In 2018, the HFHR together with Right and Prosperity presented an alternative report to the Tajikistan authorities’ report on the implementation of the Convention on the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
10.04.2018more
Shadow report to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms od Racial Discrimination 2009
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10.11.2016more
Shadow report to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms od Racial Discrimination 2014
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10.11.2016more
Situation of human rights defenders in the government-controlled territories of Ukraine
The report presents more than 50 cases of interference with activities of human rights defenders and civil society activists in the government-controlled territory of Ukraine during three years after Euromaidan (March 2014 – March 2017), including legislative and practical aspects of exercising the freedom of peaceful assembly and movement, incidents of physical violence (murder, violent […]
06.10.2017more
Social rights in Donbas
The right to social welfare is one of the fundamental rights guaranteed by both international law and the national legislation of Ukraine. For objective reasons, in 2014 at the very beginning of the military conflict in the east of Ukraine, the social welfare system in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions was virtually paralysed.
13.03.2017more
Submission to the 51st session of the Committee against Torture. Reveiw on Poland 2013
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10.11.2016more
Surviving Hell – report EN/ RU/UA
Surviving Hell: Testimonies of Victims on Places of Illegal Detention in Donbas Coalition of public organizations and initiatives “Justice for Peace in Donbas” Kyiv 2015 This publication is a result of a monitoring study conducted by the Coalition of public organizations and initiatives “Justice for Peace in Donbas” in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for […]
10.11.2016more
The constitutional crisis in Poland 2015-2016
Since 2015, Poland has been going through a constitutional crisis related to the functioning of the Constitutional Tribunal. The crisis poses a serious threat to the rule of law, democracy and human rights protection. The HFHR has monitored the legislative procedure on the Act on the Constitutional Tribunal and the appointment of Constitutional Tribunal judges […]
10.11.2016more
The practice of the European arrest warrant in Poland as an issuing country
This report is one of four country reports outlining the findings of the EU-funded research project “Beyond Surrender” which was conducted in four different EU Member States (Poland, Romania, Lithuania and Spain) between 2016 and 2018.
18.07.2018more
The right to social security assistance of civilians who became disabled as a result of the hostilities in Donbass – HFHR’s Report
The authors of the report analyzed current legal situation regarding the right to social security assistance of civilians who became disabled as a result of the hostilities in Donbass and formulated a series of recommendations for the Supreme Council and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, as well as for the regional and local authorities […]
01.06.2020more
The role of European Funds in supporting the integration of migrants in Poland
The below report aims to raise awareness about the conditions in which NGO’s specializing in migration issues function in Poland. We hope that it will encourage broader support for Polish NGO’s in the current challenging circumstances and indeed for any activities that foster integration of migrants in Poland.
02.11.2017more
The Trials of Pre-trial Detention. Report
Report published by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights presents statistical data and case law on the titular topic. The report demonstrates that the problem of abuse of pre-trial detention in Poland, highlighted by the European Court of Human Rights already a decade ago, is yet to be resolved.
30.07.2019more
Unspoken Pain
Gender-based violence (“GBV”) is a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against one of the sexes. It includes all acts of violence based on gender which result or may result in physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering of either males or females. It includes threats to commit such acts of […]
13.03.2017more
Victims, suspects, accused Rights of foreigners in criminal proceedings – a guide EN/RU/UA
This publication aims to be your step-by-step practical guide on the procedures that any victim of a crime or suspect in a criminal case faces.
18.04.2017more
We just want to be who we are. LGBT people in Tajikistan: beaten, raped and exploited by police
The report is available here.
23.04.2019more
What are human rights
The article defines human rights, describes their scope and interdisciplinary character, combining philosophy, ethics, various branches of law and political science.
12.06.2018more
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