UPR Sexual Rights Database

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UN Member State that is reviewed on its human rights record as part of the UPR process.

Categories of the types of information used during reviews

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Source of Reference

Recommending State

UN Member State or Permanent Observer making sexual rights related recommendations, comments or asking questions to the State under Review.

Review Documentation

Sources of information used as the basis for a State’s review.  Includes the State’s National Report, UN Compilation Report and a Stakeholder Summary.

UN Regional Group to which State under Review belongs.

UN Regional Group to which Recommending State belongs.

This will only match recommendations where the Source of Review is a State.

Implementation notes

State responses to recommendations and issues raised in the UN Compilation and Stakeholder summary.

Displaying 40776 - 40800 of 58160 recommendations found
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    13th session, June 2012
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    ... CESCR reiterated the recommendation calling on Poland to enforce existing legal provisions and regulations guaranteeing equal remuneration for women and men. It called on Poland to incorporate in legislation a specific provision on equal pay for equal work of equal value. [Para 41]
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    National Report

    Issue:
    • Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    An important element of the health-care system is prenatal care. In Poland, women during pregnancy, childbirth and recovery (puerperium) are under special protection ensured to them by domestic legislation, including the Constitution and international agreements ratified by Poland. [Para 36]
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Sexual harassment
    • Sexual violence
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    The Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice recommended that the Government: ... (b) take measures to prevent and address sexual harassment in education and public institutions and cyberviolence; ... (e) ensure effective prosecution of sexual violence, including all forms of non-consensual sex, and respect for victims’/survivors’ rights. [Para 39]
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Sexual and / or reproductive rights and / or health broadly
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    The European Centre for Law and Justice noted commitment to work together to improve and secure access to health and development gains for women, including sexual and reproductive health, which must always promote optimal health, the highest attainable standard of health. [Para 39]
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Sweden

    Sweden
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Discrimination based on sexual orientation
    • Discrimination based on gender identity
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    1st session, April 2008
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Adopt an anti-discrimination law that would ensure equal treatment and non-discrimination on any grounds, including sexual orientation and gender identity
    Explanation
    Poland envisages the adoption of the draft law on equal treatment by the end of 2008. It will regulate in a comprehensive manner the issues relating to equal treatment of persons without regard to sex, race, ethnic origin, religion or belief, political views, disability, age, sexual orientation, or marital and family status.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Canada

    Canada
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    OAS
    OIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Discrimination based on sexual orientation
    • Human rights defenders
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    1st session, April 2008
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Ensure that human rights defenders, in particular groups campaigning for equality and against discrimination based on perceived sexual orientation, are allowed to carry out their work in a secure environment, and that the rights to freedom of expression and association are respected
    Explanation
    The freedom of expression and association are enshrined in the Polish Constitution and all public institutions are obliged to respect it. In this regard, groups campaigning for equality and against discrimination based on sexual orientation are protected by the law enforcement institutions pursuant to the Polish law. Furthermore, to enhance the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration is preparing the amendment to the law on public assemblies, designed to ensure that the refusal by municipal authority to allow a public assembly can be heard on appeal before the planned date of the assembly.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 139) Some of the events organized by the LGBT community are of a nationwide and open format e.g. parades which takes place in the streets of the largest Polish towns. Polish law enables organizers and participants to hold free and safe parades and demonstrations (e.g. EuroPride 2010 in Warsaw). In an effort to better implement the constitutional principle of freedom of assembly, the Ministry of Interior has drafted an amendment to the Act of 5 July 1990 the Law on Assemblies.

    Para 141) Since 2011, large-scale events attended by representatives of the LGBT community are monitored by Police plenipotentiaries for human rights protection, e.g. in terms of the behaviour and reactions of Police officers. The Police cooperates with LGBT associations "Campaign against Homophobia" and "Lambda". This cooperation consists both in raising LGBT awareness among Police officers, and in organizing meetings of LGBT representatives with Police experts on how to help crime victims.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Cuba

    Cuba
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    • Women's participation
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    1st session, April 2008
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Recommended to Poland to continue to promote the participation of women in the public and political life of the country until they have gradually achieved a level of gender equality.
    Explanation
    Two multi-module projects are planned in 2008 under Operational Program Human Capital of the European Social Fund. The first project is focused on reconciling the vocational and family roles of men and women. It will involve research on the family roles adopted by men and women (division of household chores, attitudes to work etc.) for the purpose of charting changes in social trends, including those stimulated in the framework of the Operational Program Human Capital. The second project will be designed to stimulate women's socio-economic activity at the local and regional level.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 93) To promote women's participation in public and political life, the Parliament passed in 2011 Amendment to the Electoral Law to Municipal Councils, Poviat Councils and Voivodeship Councils; the Electoral Law to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to theSenate of the Republic of Poland and the Electoral Law to the European Parliament that introduces the quota system.

    Para 94) The number of women candidates may not be less than 35% of the total number of candidates on the ballots and the total number of men candidates may not be less than 35% of all the candidates on the ballots to municipal councils, poviats, voivodeship councils, the Sejm and the Senate and to the European Parliament. If the quota is not met and the defect is not removed within a specified time, such ballot will not be registered.

    UN Compilation:
    Para 39) While welcoming efforts to increase the proportion of women in the public and private sector, HR Committee remained concerned about the continued underrepresentation of women in senior positions in the public and political sphere.

    Stakeholder Summary:
    Para 34) JS5 stated that the participation of women in public and political life is low. It mentioned that the results of the latest elections demonstrated that the new Electoral Code requiring that electoral lists consist of at least 35 per cent of representatives of each gender is not effective as only 24 per cent of newly elected parliamentarians are women. JS6 stated that the new Code permits the political parties to put women at the less prestigious positions on the electoral lists.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Brazil

    Brazil
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    Issue:
    • Discrimination based on gender identity
    • Discrimination based on sexual orientation
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Improve further its non-discrimination legislation by criminalizing hate crimes on the grounds of ... sexual orientation and gender identity ...
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Sweden

    Sweden
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Abortion
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Ensure that women are given the medical and professional services necessary to exercise their legal right to terminate a pregnancy, and ascertain that women have the right to decide over their own bodies.
    Explanation
    Accepted and implemented.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Philippines

    Philippines
    Regional group
    Asia-Pacific Group
    Political group
    ASEAN
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Continue its efforts to eliminate violence against women, including domestic violence.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    The CRC, the CAT and the Special Rapporteur on the right to food recommended that Poland ratify the OP-CRC-IC. The CAT, the CESCR and the Special Rapporteur recommended that Poland ratify the OP-ICESCR. [Para 2]
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Austria

    Austria
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    13th session, June 2012
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Sign the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 6) Since the second UPR, Poland has ratified or signed the following international conventions:
    • Council of Europe (CoE) Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, made in Istanbul on 11.05.2011; ratified on 13.04.2015; took effect on 1.08.2015.

    Stakeholder Summary:
    Para 79) SIP indicated that, following the previous UPR recommendations (90.27-28), Poland had ratified the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. However, according to SIP, no steps had been taken to strengthen the protection of migrant women from gender-based violence despite explicit guidelines enshrined in the Convention.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    South Africa

    South Africa
    Regional group
    Africa Group
    Political group
    AU
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Right to marry
    • Marginalized groups of women
    • Right to health
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Rejected
    Contents:
    Consider withdrawing reservations to Articles 23 (1) (a) and (b), and Article 25 (a) of the CRPD which relate to matters of marriage, family, parenthood and relationships, as well as on access to health services.
    Explanation
    Article 23(1)(a) of the Convention deals with the recognition of the right of all persons with disabilities who are of the right age to marry to do so and to start a family, on the basis of consent given freely and fully by the spouses to be. Pursuant to Article 46 of the Convention, the Republic of Poland reserves the right not to apply Article 23(1)(a) of the Convention until Polish law is amended. Until the reservation is withdrawn, a person with a disability whose disability is the result of mental illness or deficiency and who is of the right age to marry cannot marry unless the court permits marriage upon determining that the health condition or mental condition of such a person does not endanger the marriage or the health of the expected progeny, if the person is not completely legally incapacitated. This is the consequence of Article 12(1) of the Act of 25 February 1964 — Family and Guardianship Code (uniform text: Journal of Laws of 2020, item 1359). Additionally, Poland has submitted a reservation against Article 23(1)(b) and Article 25(a). The reason for the reservation is that the right to health is sometimes interpreted on the international level as an unconditional right to abortion. In order to avoid pressure to amend the provisions governing the conditions for the termination of pregnancy, Poland submitted a reservation whereby it reserves its freedom to decide upon the conditions for the permissibility of abortion.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    27th Session May 2017
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    ... Include a definition of violence against women in the Act on Countering Domestic Violence; and systematically institute criminal proceedings, end the use of reconciliatory mediation for victims of domestic violence, prosecute alleged perpetrators and punish those found guilty of such acts. [Para 70; CEDAW]
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Australia

    Australia
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    PIF
    Commonwealth
    Issue:
    • Family planning
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    13th session, June 2012
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Ensure protection of the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children.
    Implementation
    National Report:
    Para 64) Under Article 4 of the Act, school curricula include knowledge of human sexual life, the principles of conscious and responsible parenthood, the value of family, prenatal life, and methods and means of conscious procreation. According to Article 2 (2) of the Act, the central government and local governments, acting within their powers, must provide citizens with free access to methods and means of conscious procreation. Contraceptives which are medical products or medical devices are registered and available in Poland, as are medicines and medical products used during pregnancy and necessary to take care of the foetus and to provide medical care to pregnant women. Reimbursement is available for medicines containing hormonal active ingredients which may have a contraceptive effect.

    Stakeholder Summary:
    Para 66) Joint Submission 3 (JS3) stated that Poland had not implemented recommendations 90.96, 90.106, 90.107, 90.108 and 90.109. There were no reproductive health centres, and contraception was not refunded from the state budget. Women without sufficient financial means sought help from unskilled providers who performed abortions in unsafe conditions. This was a serious danger to women’s health and life. According to JS3, procedures for legal abortions were incomplete, inconsistent, and arbitrary. They were neither written down nor published.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Venezuela

    Venezuela
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • Intersex persons' rights
    • Discrimination based on sexual orientation
    • Discrimination based on gender identity
    • Violence on the basis of sexual orientation
    • Violence on the basis of gender identity
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Rejected
    Contents:
    Prevent discrimination and hate crimes against migrants, LBGTI and ethnic minorities, guarantee the investigation and sanction of the perpetrators, conduct outreach campaigns so that victims report these crimes and train the police and officials to respect and assist victims.
    Explanation
    According to the Article 32 of the Polish Constitution all persons shall be equal before the law. All persons shall have the right to equal treatment by public authorities. No one shall be discriminated against in political, social or economic life for any reason whatsoever.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Germany

    Germany
    Regional group
    WEOG
    Political group
    EU
    Issue:
    • Discrimination based on sexual orientation
    • Discrimination based on gender identity
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Amend the criminal and civil code to establish sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected grounds for discrimination.
    Explanation
    Noted. According to the Article 32 of the Polish Constitution all persons shall be equal before the law. All persons shall have the right to equal treatment by public authorities. No one shall be discriminated against in political, social or economic life for any reason whatsoever. Polish legislation provides far-reaching protection against discrimination. Anti-discrimination legislation already covers sexual orientation, and labour law prohibits discrimination on any grounds whatsoever (including without limitation identification with a different sex than stated in identity papers). According to the Polish Constitution under the term ‘gender’ Poland understands only one’s biological sex, which is understood to mean either a woman or a man. For this reason, any interpretation of guarantees relating to so-called ‘gender identity’ cannot be understood as readiness to introduce legislative amendments in the scope in which ‘gender’ goes beyond the term referred to a woman or man identified on the basis of their biological characteristics.

  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Venezuela

    Venezuela
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • Violence against women / gender-based violence
    • Domestic violence
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Unclear Response
    Contents:
    Prevent domestic and gender-based violence; provide support to victims; create well-funded shelters and centres for psychological and legal assistance.
    Explanation
    Noted. The Victim Assistance Network financed by the Justice Fund provides legal, psychological and therapeutic assistance for all victims, as well as medical assistance in justified cases. Unpaid assistance for victims is provided by legal professionals, psychologists, psychotherapists and physicians authorized to provide the aforesaid services pursuant to the provisions of domestic law, including without limitation special provisions governing the right to practice the profession. Currently, the Victim Assistance Network operates 305 centres throughout Poland providing assistance financed by the Justice Fund. Through them, victims of crime are given access to legal and psychological assistance. Assistance from the Justice Fund is offered to all victims of all sorts of criminal offences. This assistance is easily accessible; from 1 January to 30 November 2022 nearly 28,000 persons used the assistance provided by the Victim Assistance Network, the majority having been women — 20,000. ... Poland understands the term “gender” as exclusively biological sex, therefore a natural sex of a person, that is of a woman or a man.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Cuba

    Cuba
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • Gender equality
    Type:
    Recommendation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Accepted
    Contents:
    Eliminate the social, cultural and political barriers that prevent women from occupying higher positions in all instances of the country’s life.
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Panama

    Panama
    Regional group
    GRULAC
    Political group
    OAS
    OEI
    ACS
    Issue:
    • Sexual harassment
    Type:
    Question
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    N/A
    Contents:
    What legislative and policy measures are being implemented to prohibit corporal punishment and prevent sexual harassment and cyberviolence in educational institutions?
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Discrimination based on sexual orientation
    • Discrimination based on gender identity
    • Violence on the basis of sexual orientation
    • Violence on the basis of gender identity
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    13th session, June 2012
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    ... Poland should ensure that all allegations of attacks and threats against individuals targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity are thoroughly investigated. It should also: legally prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; and amend the Penal Code to define hate speech and hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity among the categories of punishable offences ... [Para 16]
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • Transgender persons' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    13th session, June 2012
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    T-FF described the problems faced by transgender people in the work environment and recommended that Poland start monitoring the situation of transgender employees and ensure that every transgender person is protected in their workplace. [Para 36]
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Abortion
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    1st session, April 2008
    Status:
    Neglected
    Contents:
    Liberalize its legislation and practice on abortion. [Para 30; HR Committee]
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    UN Compilation

    Issue:
    • Contraception
    • Abortion
    • Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
    • Intersex persons' rights
    • Marginalized groups of women
    • Rights of same-sex desiring persons
    • Sexual and / or reproductive rights and / or health broadly
    • Transgender persons' rights
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Not Followed up with a Recommendation
    Contents:
    The Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice recommended that the Government: (a) ensure full access to health-care services, including reproductive health care and tailored care to address the needs of adolescent girls, women with disabilities, sex workers, rural women and lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women; (b) ensure that a full range of modern contraceptives and related information and services, including emergency contraception, were readily accessible to and affordable for all women; (c) ensure that legal abortion was accessible in practice by removing existing barriers and abortion stigma, including through the proper monitoring and regulation of the practice of conscientious objection and by improving the effectiveness of the complaint mechanism, ... (e) continue with efforts to improve access to and the quality of maternal health care for all pregnant women in rural and urban areas. [Para 32]
  • State Under Review:

    Poland

    Poland
    Regional group
    EEG
    Political group
    EU
    Source Of Reference:

    Stakeholder Summary

    Issue:
    • International human rights instruments
    Type:
    Review Documentation
    Session:
    41st session, November 2022
    Status:
    Reference Addressed
    Contents:
    JS2 recommended to ratify the … OP-CRC-IC. [Para 2]

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