CAT/OP/POL/CNPMRO/1
41.
The main goal of the campaign is to increase public awareness of what torture is and
who can become its victim. The experience of the NMPT shows that the most often victims
of torture are people with low social awareness, very often minors, but also people with
disabilities.
42.
The campaign’s materials included two TV spots by APT, relating to the role of
national prevention mechanisms and to changes in police interrogation methods. The Polish
language versions of these recordings were compiled thanks to the support of the Supreme
Bar Council and the National Chamber of Legal Advisers. Also thanks to the courtesy of
the Supreme Bar Council, infographics have been developed illustrating the rights of people
subjected to torture, the Mechanism’s working methods, and the case law of the European
Court of Human Rights that concerns torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.
43.
The campaign’s poster was developed by Luka Rayski, known also as the author of
the poster Constitution. The poster has a QR code that can be scanned with a smartphone to
easily access the Mechanism’s website. The poster has also been sent to places of detention.
44.
A new version of the Mechanism’s leaflet has also been prepared, which has been
translated into four languages: English, Russian, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. Thanks to the
cooperation with the campaign partners, a list of contacts at the Office of the Commissioner
for Human Rights and the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture was compiled
and was sent to all penitentiary establishments in Poland. Infographics have also been
developed and posted on the website of the Mechanism to inform about its role and tasks,
the methods of conducting its activities, the rights of persons subjected to torture or its
witnesses, as well as the case law of the European Court of Human Rights concerning
torture and degrading or inhuman treatment or punishment.
45.
In order to reach the largest possible target group, during the campaign attempts
were made to attract the interest of managers of the Polish public television, and the
Catholic church. Unfortunately, these steps were unsuccessful. Neither the public television
nor representatives of the Catholic church were willing to cooperate in this area.
46.
In this context, the role of representatives of the Evangelical Church of the
Augsburg Confession should be emphasized, as the only entity to join the campaign State
without torture. As part of their work among members of that church, and in the magazine
Zwiastun ewangelicki, they disseminate information on the need to prevent torture.
47.
The Mechanism’s representatives carry out the campaign through the media: they
take part in television programme recordings, radio interviews and prepare press articles.
48.
Of course, educational activities are also conducted among students, police officers
and employees of correctional facilities for minors, with the aim of increasing the visibility
of the NMPT in the society. It is worth adding in this context that is planned to extend the
educational activities to cover students of the so-called uniformed service schools, who in
the future will seek employment within the police structures, and to cover universities’ law
clinics providing legal counselling to citizens.
49.
A specific form of education of members of society are also the NMPT statements
issued since 2017 based on media reports concerning the rights of persons deprived of their
liberty. On the basis of information published by the media, statements are prepared in
which comments are made, for example, on the activities of the law enforcement services
regarding persons deprived of their liberty, in the context of protecting them against torture
and inhuman or degrading treatment.
50.
The mechanism fulfils its role also by submitting comments on existing and planned
legislative instruments concerning also persons deprived of liberty. Since the beginning of
its activity, the NMPT has formulated comments on 33 legislative instruments.
51.
The opinions were issued, i.a., on the following legal acts:
• Opinion of 28 August 2018 on the draft act on video surveillance (CCTV). The
Commissioner pointed out, first of all, the necessity to use this form of surveillance
only based on provisions of a legal act of statutory rank.
• Opinion of 31 October 2016 and of 16 January 2017 on the draft regulation of the
Minister of the Interior and Administration amending the regulation on rooms for
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