Contributed and translated by: Agnieszka Mrozik, Poland National VAW Monitor

On July 25, 2005 Polish Parliament passed the Counteraction Violence in Close Relations Bill. On August 19, 2005 the bill was signed by President Aleksander Kwasniewski. On November 21, 2005 the bill was enacted.

According to a new law, it is possible to apply pre-trial police supervision of perpetrators of domestic violence but only when they leave the place they stayed with the victim.

The bill states that in case of perpetrator’s suspended sentence it is court to decide about the form of future contact between the perpetrator and the victim. In definite circumstances court may demand the perpetrator stays away from his or her victim. Court may also demand the perpetrator undergoes therapy or educational program.

The bill states that a person who works for an institution that aims at fighting against violence is obliged to inform the police or prosecutor about the acts of domestic violence when he or she suspects that such acts happen in a particular family. But the bill does not provide for punishment for those who neglect their duties.

The bill says that each district is obliged to prepare its own program of counteracting domestic violence, to provide counseling and intervention in case the acts of domestic violence happen, and to organize the district centers of support to help the victims of domestic violence.

Money for all those mentioned tasks are to be provided by Polish budget.

The text of the bill in Polish may be found at: www.rownystatus.gov.pl/pl/data/UstawaPrzemoc.pdf

Published in: Counteraction Violence in Close Relations Bill Passed and Enacted, NGO.pl, (last accessed 4 February 2006)