| Type of parliamentary body |
Multifunctional |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
Senat
|
| Date of creation |
9 November 2007 |
| Last renewal date |
|
| Mandate |
The Human Rights, Rule of Law and Petitions Committee:
- Scrutinises all laws passed by the Sejm and international agreements which have human rights or rule of law implications,
- Analyses relevant draft laws proposed by Senators,
- Has the right to introduce a proposed law for consideration by the Senate,
- Hears and discusses annual reports presented by the representatives of the National Judicial Council, the Ombudsman, the Supreme Court, the Institute of National Remembrance and the Central Anticorruption Bureau,
- Provides its opinion on candidates for the National Judicial Council and the Institute of National Remembrance,
- Is charged with examining of petitions submitted to the Polish Senate.
The Committee focuses on human rights issues, institutional guarantees for human rights and civic liberties, the functioning of the justice system, matters relating to the rule of law and public safety, non-governmental organisations and civil society. |
| Membership |
Members of the Human Rights, Rule of Law and Petitions Committee are appointed by the Senate until the end of the current parliamentary term. At present the Committee comprises eight senators. |
| Working methods |
The Committee has the power to summon government representatives to appear before it and ask them to comment and provide further explanations regarding proposed legislation. The Committee may invite other persons i.e. experts, representatives of professional organisations and NGOs to participate in its sittings. Also members of other committees of the Senate have the right to take part in committee sittings. The Committee may decide to arrange its meetings at other locations.
Resolutions are passed by a majority in the presence of least one-third Committee members. The rapporteur reports to the Senate the opinion of the Committee on the draft law concerned as well as its proposals for amendments. The Committee may also suggest that the Senate accept the law or reject the law in whole. The Committee's opinion presented at the Senate session is followed by a general debate and the final vote.
The Committee may demand, when it deems appropriate, any additional information related to its work from the representatives of state administration.
The Committee holds meetings with persons active in the field of human rights. It also organises conferences and seminars on matters of particular interest or concern to it.
The Committee does not have a power to conduct investigations.
The Committee's sessions and the information about the committee's work are in principle open to the public. |
| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
The Committee works in close cooperation with other Committees in the Polish Senate often organising joint sessions. It also cooperates closely with the Justice and Human Rights Committee of the Sejm. In addition, the Committee regularly consults the Legislative Office of the Senate's Chancellery, Information and Documentation Office as well as with the Office for International and European Union Affairs. |
| Relations with external bodies |
The Committee maintains contacts with the Office of Ombudsman, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and other non-governmental organisations, the Polish Mediation Centre and the National Association of Probation Officers. |
| Subjects dealt with |
Over the last months the Committee has examined legislation relating to:
- Human trafficking, protection of foreigners, minority languages, data protection, victims of persecution, property issues (bankruptcy), elections and referendum, road traffic and discrimination issues;
- The judicial system, the Courts, the public prosecution service, legal services, the police service, prisons and other places of detention, compensation to crime victims, intelligence service;
- The judgments of the Polish Constitutional Court resulting in amendments to the Penal Code, the Civil Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Code of Civil Procedure, the Law on Trade Unions.
In recent times, the Committee participated in the organization of the conference dealing with the probation system in Poland held in October 2008 as well as the conference on the rights of the handicapped persons in Poland held in December 2008. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
1 Kancelaria Senatu
ul Wiejska 6
00-902 WARSAW |
| Phone |
+48 22 694 95 09 |
| Fax |
+48 22 694 93 58 |
| E-mail |
kpcpp@nw.senat.gov.pl |
| Website |
...
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PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Mr. Stanislaw Piotrowicz |
| Notes |
Chair |
| Name |
Mr. Krzysztof Piesiewicz |
| Notes |
Deputy Chair |
|
SECRETARY
|
| Name |
Ms. Joanna Granowska |
| Notes |
Secretary |
| Name |
Ms. Elzbieta Owczarek |
| Notes |
Secretary |
|
