A recent amendment to Poland’s Act on Counteracting Sexual Crime Threats and Protecting Minors would have abolished the requirement for parents or guardians assisting at educational institutions, e.g., during school trips, to present certificates of no criminal record.
President Karol Nawrocki has now vetoed this amendment, reports Do Rzeczy, partially due to criticisms from the Ombudsman for Children.
Monika Horna-Cieślak appealed to Nawrocki to use his veto against what she called a move that would lower the standard of child protection in Poland, currently under the “Kamilek Act,” and create a real threat to their safety, especially in the context of sexual offenses.
The Ombudsman highlighted a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Children’s Rights, during which issues related to the situation of children during the separation of their parents were discussed. One of the speakers at this meeting, presented as an “expert,” was none other than a person convicted of sexual offences and listed on the Sex Offenders Register. This sparked outrage and questions about the mechanisms for controlling access by such individuals to places where minors reside and places generally considered safe.
“Under the proposed regulations, there is a real risk that such situations may repeat themselves in practice, and that individuals convicted of sexual offenses, murder, or human trafficking will be able to have contact with children, for example, during classes in kindergartens or schools where they will be guests. In practice, responsibilities related to children’s safety will be transferred to teaching staff,” warned Horna-Cieślak.
The so-called Kamilek Act entered into force on Feb. 15, 2024. It was passed in response to the tragic death of 8-year-old Kamilek from Częstochowa, who died as a result of brutal abuse by his stepfather.
The regulations require the implementation of child protection standards in all facilities that work with children. This includes schools, preschools, childcare centers, educational centers, religious centers, artistic centers, medical centers, recreational centers, sports centers, youth centers, and community centers. Employees in these facilities must provide a certificate of no criminal record from the National Criminal Register.
