Report of the Commissioner for Human Rights on the activities of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in Poland in 2017
Operation of the
National Mechanism
for the Prevention
of Torture
Organization
The role of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in Poland
is performed by the Polish Commissioner for Human Rights9.
The National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture is composed of:
employees of the NMPT Team, members of the Expert Committee on the
NMPT as well as external specialists.
The National Preventive Mechanism constitutes one of the Departments within the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights10. The NMPT Department is supported by
employees of the Commissioner for Human Rights’ regional representative offices located
in Gdańsk, Wrocław and Katowice. Pursuant to the agreement concluded between the
NMPT and CHR’s regional representatives, in each regional office an employee has been
designated who, apart from performing office work, also participates in 3 preventive visits
under the Mechanism, held in establishments located in the area for which a given CHR’s
representative is responsible. In 2017 the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture consisted of 12 specialists and an employee working as a secretary11. The Director of
the NMPT in 2017 was Justyna Róża Lewandowska, and Przemysław Kazimirski was her
deputy. Supervision over the activities of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of
Torture was exercised, in the reporting period, by one of the Commissioner’s deputies, col.
Krzysztof Olkowicz. Starting from 26 September 2017 the role was assumed by Hanna
Machińska (Ph.D.). Pursuant to OPCAT provisions, employees of national preventive
mechanisms should have relevant skills and diversified professional knowledge as well as
constitute a representation of men and women. Individuals working for the Mechanism in
9
Pursuant to Article 1(4) of the Act of 15 July 1987 on the Commissioner for Human Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Act on the CHR), consolidated
text: Dz. U. of 2017, item 958.
10 Article 6 of the Appendix to Regulation no. 45/2015 of the Commissioner for Human Rights of 19 November 2015 adopting the Statutes of the Office
for the Commissioner for Human Rights.
11 One employee of the Mechanism was on maternity leave in 2017 and two employees did not participate in te visits organized beyond Warsaw as they were
taking care of children below 4 years of age (Article 178(2) of the Labour Code).
9