Report of the Human Rights Defender on the activities of the National Preventive Mechanism in Poland in 2012 13.  The Ombudsman Act The Ombudsman Act Act of 15 July 1987 on the Human Rights Defender (consolidated text) Article 1. 1. The Human Rights Defender is hereby established. 2. The Human Rights Defender, hereinafter referred to as „the Defender” shall safeguard the liberties and rights of citizens as set forth in the Constitution and in other legal acts 2a. On matters concerning children the Defender shall co-operate with the Children’s Rights Defender. 3. In cases involving protection of the rights and liberties of the human being and of the citizen, the Defender shall  investigate whether, due to any action or abstaining on the part of organs, organizations or institutions responsible for the observance and implementation of those rights and liberties, the law and principles of community life and social justice have been infringed. Article 2. The Defender must be a Polish citizen of outstanding legal knowledge, professional experience and high prestige due to the individual’s moral values and social sensitivity. Article 3. 1. The Defender shall be appointed by the Sejm upon approval of the Senate on a motion expressed by the Speaker of the Sejm or by a group of 35 deputies. 2. Detailed procedure of nomination for the office of the Human Rights Defender shall be determined by the resolution of the Sejm. 3. The resolution of the Sejm appointing the Human Rights Defender shall be immediately conveyed by the Speaker of the Sejm to the Speaker of the Senate. 4. The Senate shall adopt resolution on the approval of the appointment of the Defender within one month of receipt of the Sejm’s resolution referred to in section 3. The Senate’s failure to adopt such a resolution within one month shall be tantamount to approval. 136