Report of the HRD on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland in 2011
shared the view of the NPM and reported that in result of his actions the Director of
YSC in Piaseczno implemented the recommendations of the Mechanism, and informed
that female juveniles participated in prayers voluntarily. Education Officer of Małopolskie
Voivodship also agreed with the observations of the NPM and informed that he would
take into account the right to freedom of conscience when carrying out pedagogical supervision over establishments for juveniles. Finally, Education Officer of Wielkopolskie
Voivodship informed that the Director of YCC in Kalisz explained that issues related to
ensuring freedom of conscience and religion are regulated pursuant to the provisions of
Polish Constitution and of Convention on the Rights of the Child, which say that parents
are given priority when assisting the child in executing his/her right to freedom of thought,
conscience and denomination.
The National Preventive Mechanism recommended to:
• Ensure freedom of conscience and religion to all juveniles, including the freedom
to profess or to accept a religion by personal choice, the possibility to participate
in religious practices, and a ban to compel anybody to participate or not to participate in religious practices.
i) Staff
Personnel of all the visited establishments had adequate qualifications: those working
with the juveniles held M.A. degrees and participated in numerous trainings and courses.
In the opinion of the National Preventive Mechanism, personnel of the establishments
should participate in trainings on the protection of rights of the child as stipulated in
international and national law, as provided for in Rule 85 of the United Nations Rules for
the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty171: the personnel should receive such
training as will enable them to carry out their responsibilities effectively, in particular training in child psychology, child welfare and international standards and norms of human rights
and the rights of the child, including the present rules.
The National Preventive Mechanism recommended to:
• Organise trainings on the protection of rights of the child in international and
national law for the personnel.
j) Living conditions
It should be stressed that in most establishments residents were given very good living
conditions. The Mechanism recommended to refurbish the YSC in Wilga, YSC No 3 in
Łódź, and YCC in Cracow. In the opinion of the visitors, the living conditions in certain
establishments were unsatisfactory. The buildings were in a pitiful state, with plaster falling
Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly 45/113.
171
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