2019 - 2020: Professor Adam Bodnar
2019 - 2020:
Professor Adam Bodnar
Poland's Commissioner for Human Rights
"The Fight for Rule of Law in Poland"
Between 2015 and 2020, Poland's ruling party, "Law and Justice," has undertaken a number of steps to dismantle the rule of law. As a result, Poland is sliding towards a system of illiberal democracy or a system of competitive authoritarianism. There is massive resistance against these changes by civil society, judicial associations, opposition political parties and international organizations. Poland has also become a laboratory for testing new procedures of the European Union concerning the rule of law observance. The question is whether defenders of the rule of law will prevail, and constitutional democracy will survive.
About Prof. Bodnar
Prof. Adam Bodnar was appointed the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Poland in 2015. A key function of this constitutional office is to ensure that public authorities secure and respect the human rights of all members of Polish society. He has been appointed by the Parliament as the Commissioner for Human Rights thanks to unprecedented support and a campaign by more than 60 Polish NGOs.Prof. Bodnar is a defender of judicial independence, freedom of the media, and minority rights - all of which have been under threat in Poland. He is an advocate of democracy and the rule of law. He has been a leading voice in the protection of minority rights for migrants, women, ethnic and national minorities, persons with disabilities and sexual minorities.
Prof. Bodnar has been giving lectures in law at the University of Warsaw since 2006, the year he received his PhD in the field of constitutional law at the University. In 2018 he received his second scholar degree (habilitation). Prior to assuming his current role, Prof. Bodnar worked for the Helsinki Foundation of Human Rights between 2004 and 2015. In 2013-14 he was a member of the Board of Directors of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.
Prof. Bodnar and his Office received the 2018 Norwegian Rafto Prize for the defence of minority rights and judicial independence in Poland, and in 2019, the Rule of Law Award by the World Justice Project.