Children's Rights Ombudsperson and UNICEF signed an agreement to strengthen child protection in Poland

Strengthening the national system for child protection in Poland, especially in the context of unprecedented numbers of refugee children, and jointly monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Poland are the main objectives of the cooperation agreement signed on 23 April 2024 by the Child Rights Ombudsperson, Monika Horna-Cieślak, and Country Coordinator of the UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland, Nona Zicherman.

Children's rights play a crucial role in the Polish legal system, reflecting the commitments arising from the Convention on the Rights of the Child adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989 and ratified by Poland in 1991. It was Poland, as one of the initiators of the Convention, that submitted its first draft to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Children's rights are also enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, further emphasizing their importance in our country.

Now, in the spirit of these commitments, the Children's Rights Ombudsperson and UNICEF, acting within their respective mandates, are joining efforts to ensure the rights of all children in Poland are protected, including refugee children, who are often in particularly vulnerable situations. This new cooperation will also support monitoring of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Poland and raising public awareness of these rights. The Child Rights Ombudsperson and UNICEF will also cooperate to collect and analyze data on the problems faced by children, and strengthen research methods and feedback mechanisms. Importantly, the Children's Rights Ombudsperson and UNICEF will strive to strengthen the engagement and participation of children and adolescents living in Poland, to allow them to participate more actively in the decision-making processes affecting their lives.

"I am very glad that in my efforts to protect children's rights in Poland, I can count on such an important partner as UNICEF. What particularly unites us is the belief that in order to effectively protect children's rights, we must consider their perspectives and experiences. We know how important each child and their needs are," says Monika Horna-Cieślak, Children's Rights Ombudsman. 

“Poland has played an important role in advancing children's rights throughout history. Starting from the initiative to create the Convention on the Rights of the Child to the great effort of the entire country to welcome millions of refugees from Ukraine after the escalation of the war in February 2022, it was at often the forefront. Thanks to the closer cooperation with the Children's Rights Ombudsperson, we want to ensure that the voice of every child living in Poland, regardless of their origin or the language they speak, is heard by those making decisions that affect their future," says Nona Zicherman, Country Coordinator of the UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland. 

Media Contacts 

Children’s Rights Ombudsman Office 
Paulina Nowosielska 
paulina.nowosielska@brpd.gov.pl 
+48 607 333 145 

UNICEF Refugee Response Office in Poland

Agnieszka Pospiszyl

apospiszyl@unicef.org  
+48 508 371 020