Institutions and Human Rights regarding the definition and the unconditional prohibition of torture in the Polish legislation23. LACK OF LEGISLATIVE GROUNDS FOR LIMITING SOCIAL CARE HOME RESIDENTS’ POSSIBILITY TO FREELY LEAVE THE HOME24 In 2017, after the publication of the NMPT’s report entitled Rights of residents of social care homes: how to jointly ensure dignified life to seniors, ill persons and persons with disabilities? the Commissioner for Human Rights requested the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy to express her opinion on the systemic problems diagnosed in the document. During the conducted visits, people relatively frequently reported the problem of restricting residents’ possibility to freely leave the home, which, in the opinion of Commissioner, finds no grounds in the current legislation. However, some residents, due to their physical and psychological condition, should not leave their social care homes by themselves as this might pose a risk to their lives or health. Therefore, it seems justified to take action to regulate the issue by means of an act of the Parliament. PROVISION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS OF SOCIAL CARE HOMES25 Another problem discussed in the aforementioned report and presented to the Minister is the provision of psychological and psychiatric assistance to residents of social care homes. The current legal regulations set out only general standards of access to psychologists and psychiatrists but do not specify forms or frequency of their cooperation with residents of social care homes. LACK OF LEGAL REGULATIONS ON THE USE OF VIDEO SURVEILLANCE IN SOCIAL CARE HOMES26 The CHR’s intervention also referred to the use of video surveillance systems in social care homes. This issue is not covered by the regulations that govern the work of such homes. The operation of cameras in the facilities may interfere The opinion is available at: www.kmpt.rpo.gov.pl. KMP.575.7.2016 25 see above 26 see above 23 24 Report of the Commissioner for Human Rights on the activities of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in Poland in 2018 25