INTRODUCTION

Following political changes in 1989, Poland has evolved into a democratic state based on the rule of law and implementing the principles of social justice. In 1997 new criminal legislation was adopted governing criminal responsibility (the Criminal Code of 1997, hereafter referred to as “the CC”), criminal procedure (the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1997, hereafter referred to as “the CCP”) and the execution of criminal sentences (the Code on Execution of Criminal Sentences, hereafter referred to as “the CECS”). The new criminal legislation, together with the new Constitution of 1997 and the European Convention on Human Rights, ratified shortly after the start of the transition process, have formed the basis for considerable changes in the Polish penitentiary system. Respect for the human rights of inmates became the most important challenge for our correctional facilities. A lot has been done since then to build up the system, complying with various international standards. In 2004 Poland joined the European Union. European funds have increased the opportunities to address various rehabilitation programs for those convicted of offenses. However, the rapid growth of criminality at the beginning of the 21s t century resulted in overcrowding in prisons, which was controlled at the expense of reducing the rehabilitation capacity of correctional facilities.

INTERNATIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Poland is a member of the following international organizations: the United Nations (since 1945); the Council of Europe (since 1991); the European Union (since 2004); and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (since 1973).

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS THAT SPECIFICALLY CONCERN WOMEN

Poland is a contracting party to the following international human rights treaties concerning women: UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (since 1980); UN Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Woman (since 2003). No reservations have been made to these Conventions. Poland is not a party to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, adopted in 2011.

In addition to binding legal acts, the Polish penitentiary system respects the following non-binding international instruments: