The objective of the Legal Program is to initiate and support the increase of public awareness and promote information on legal issues; to develop a law-abiding culture in Poland; and to assist citizens in gaining access to legal knowledge, in identification and application of the legal protection tools available to them.
During 2002, we facilitated the application of legal instruments protecting individual interests, and supporting citizens in claiming and executing their rights. We prioritized projects of practical value that provided effective solutions to specific problems of everyday life and focused on initiatives that would help people find their way amongst rules and procedures often perceived by them as confusing, and develop their knowledge and skills that would enable them to use the legal provisions to their best advantage. It was important for us to ensure that the projects sponsored under the Legal Education Program were implemented in cooperation with local governments and non-governmental organizations, and had a long-term strategy in terms of further development and funding.
In 2002, our partners were mainly non-governmental organizations, since they played a crucial role in the application of, and adherence to, legal provisions by both individuals and public bodies in Poland. These included International Lawyers’ Committee, the Alliance of Citizens’ Advice Bureaus Association, the Friends of Integration Association, and Iustitia Judges Association.
As part of our activities aimed at increasing access to legal knowledge and information, we continued to support University Legal Clinics and Citizens’ Advice Bureaus. The main aim of these organizations is to provide free and impartial information on legal issues, as well as professional advice to individuals facing serious problems. In the case of the Citizens’ Advice Bureaus, this task is carried out by experts who have undergone special training; in Legal Clinics the advisors are law students supervised by university teachers or representatives of the legal profession with appropriate experience. In 2002 we awarded grants to 27 already functioning or newly established Citizens’ Advice Bureaus as well as to the University Legal Clinics Foundation established in 2002 and the University Legal Clinic in the Catholic University of Lublin.
In addition, we supported activities in the field of legal assistance and aid to people facing serious problems: the Ithaca Foundation that assists individuals affected by the loss of friends or relatives reported missing; organizations supporting people with disabilities, or legal advice centers for the Roma community in Poland. Considerable attention was given to educational projects dealing with various legal issues and human rights as defined under Polish legal provisions and international regulations. We supported groups for which legal information was of primary importance, such as the disabled, victims of violence, ex-convicts and youth. Some of our grants were channeled to organizations that use existing legal instruments to act on behalf of individuals and represent them in courts or before administrative bodies, such as the Hope Association of Families and Friends of Mentally Ill Individuals from Suwalki or Open Doors Association. Some grants were awarded to local civic anti-corruption groups collaborating with the Foundation’s Anti-Corruption Program and organizations that promote mediation such as the Partners Poland Foundation and the Polish Mediation Center.
Together with the Friends of Integration Association and the Polish Section of the International Lawyers’ Committee, we continued our work within the Legal Information Center for the Disabled. In 2002 a series of debates started to address the key issues faced by people with disabilities. Working together with the Iustitia Polish Judges Association, we continued a project entitled Citizen at Court, involving the establishment of information desks at courthouses that offer userfriendly, straightforward information about basic legal issues. We were publishing consecutive Your Rights in Court booklets written by practicing judges; we also provided subsidies towards the publication of advice manuals prepared by non-governmental organizations, viz. the Klon/Jawor Association, Action Foundation, Foundation Rule of Law Institute.
In 2002, the Program received partial funding from the Constitutional and Legal Policy Institute COLPI in Budapest (PLN 659 331,68) and Open Society Institute EU Accession Monitoring Program (PLN 58 310,01).
Citizens’ Advice Bureaus and University Legal Clinics
|
| Regional Development Agency for Northeast Mazovia Ostrołęka |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Ostrołęka |
PLN 12 000 |
| John Paul II Foundation, Citizens’ Advice Bureau Lubaczów |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Lubaczów |
PLN 23 000 |
| International Center of Education and Development Mielec |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Mielec and adjacent communities |
PLN 15 000 |
| Youth Support Fundation Bonus Warsaw |
Establishment of Citizens Advice Bureaus in three counties bordering on Warsaw (Legionowo, Pruszków, Wołomin) |
PLN 20 000 |
| Kawęczyn Development Society Kawęczyn |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Kawęczyn and adjacent communities |
PLN 14 000 |
| International Association for the Social Growth Suwałki |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Suwałki |
PLN 4 000 |
| Local Initiative Support Association Mikołajki |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Mikołajki and adjacent communities |
PLN 18 000 |
| Together Organizations and Associations Forum Puławy |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Puławy and adjacent communities |
PLN 16 000 |
| Social Action Association SAS Gdańsk |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Gdańsk |
PLN 23 000 |
| Association of Originators of Cultural Initiatives in Rural Areas Jonkowo |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Olsztyn |
PLN 17 000 |
| Citizens’ Advice Bureau Wrocław |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Wrocław |
PLN 30 000 |
| Social Information Center Association Warsaw |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Warsaw |
PLN 55 000 |
| Social Information Center Association Przemyśl |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Przemyśl |
PLN 40 000 |
| Career Women Association Wałbrzych |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Wałbrzych |
PLN 5 000 |
| Association for the Unemployed People Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski |
PLN 8 000 |
| Association for the Support of Oświęcim Development Initiatives Oświęcim |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Oświęcim and adjacent communities |
PLN 8 000 |
| Human Rights Protection Association Dębica |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Dębica and adjacent communities |
PLN 20 000 |
| Helping Hand Association Garwolin |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Garwolin and adjacent communities |
PLN 10 000 |
| Chance Association of Non-Tangible Aid Krosno |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Krosno and adjacent communities |
PLN 22 000 |
| Law-Citizen-Democracy Association Wieruszów |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Wieruszów |
PLN 25 000 |
| Together Association Gdynia |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Gdynia |
PLN 19 000 |
| Association of the Roma People Kraków |
Managing Citizens Advice Bureaus for the Roma community |
PLN 10 000 |
| Rainbow Association Węgorzewo |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Węgorzewo and adjacent communities |
PLN 14 000 |
| Wielkopolska Civic Initiative Association Poznań |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Poznań |
PLN 30 000 |
| Wielkopolska of Citizens Association, Citizens’ Advice Bureau Konin |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Konin |
PLN 31 000 |
| Association of Citizens’ Advice Bureau’s Support Łomża |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Łomża |
PLN 39 000 |
| The Silesian Foundation in Support of Enterprise and Local Initiative Pro Futuro Katowice |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Katowice |
PLN 8 000 |
| Committee for Protection of Children’s Rights Częstochowa |
Free advice on civic matters for the citizens of Częstochowa and adjacent communities |
PLN 10 000 |
| Union of Citizens’ Advice Bureaus Associations Warsaw |
Development of an Internet database for Citizens Advice Bureaus |
PLN 26 100 |
| Foundation of University Legal Clinics Warsaw |
A seed grant to launch the Foundation established to promote the development of university legal clinics and a legal education system in Poland and build working relationships with universities in CEE |
PLN 42 250 |
| Catholic University of Lublin, Faculty of Law, Canonical Law and Administration Lublin |
Establishment of a University Legal Clinic, where supervised by senior lawyers, law students will provide legal advice to needy people |
PLN 12 000 |
Education, Information and Legal Advice
|
| House for Polish-German Co-operation Gliwice |
Development of a booklet on the use of different minority languages as ancillary official languages in selected European countries |
PLN 5 000 |
| Counseling Union for Disabled People Elbląg |
Managing a legal helpdesk for people with disabilities |
PLN 23 700 |
| Action Foundation Warsaw |
Development of a guide for people leaving a prison |
PLN 8 000 |
| Rule of Law Institute Lublin |
Development of a brochure on the rights and obligations of foreign nationals applying for a refugee status in Poland |
PLN 4 600 |
| Partners Poland Foundation Warsaw |
Pilot outreach campaign for judges ruling in family/divorce cases to promote family mediation |
PLN 12 630 |
| Ithaca Foundation for Assistance to Individuals Affected by Loss of Their Friends or Relatives Warsaw |
Managing a helpline for lost people and their families |
PLN 40 000 |
| Baba Association for Women Zielona Góra |
Development of a Say No to Violence flyer on domestic violence |
PLN 5 000 |
| Polish Association for the Mentally Handicapped Skarszewy |
Education and legal assistance for disabled people and their families |
PLN 16 450 |
| Polish Social Workers Association Warsaw |
Development of a guide on the rights and regulations applicable to peoplewith a refugee status |
PLN 7 400 |
| Polish Association for Counteracting Disabilities Szczecin |
Managing a legal helpdesk for disabled people and their families |
PLN 6 000 |
| Island in a City Association of Children and Teenagers Zabrze |
Use Your Law – a series of training workshops and legal counseling for victims of crime |
PLN 6 000 |
| Grodków Forum Association Grodków |
Your Government, Your Friend – establishment of a legal helpdesk for people suffering from severe hardships |
PLN 2 000 |
| Local Newspapers Association Warsaw |
Implementation of a legal assistance program for local newspapers |
PLN 80 000 |
| Klon/Jawor Association Warsaw |
Welfare Legislation – development and publication of a resource base on the rights of social welfare clients |
PLN 16 000 |
| International Lawyers’ Committee – Polish Section Warsaw |
Right for the Disabled – free counseling and advocacy of the rights of disabled people |
PLN 20 000 |
| Civic Solidarity Association Warsaw |
Establishment of a legal helpdesk for people suffering from severe hardships, particularly senior citizens |
PLN 9 000 |
| Open Doors Association Warsaw |
Civic counseling and education for mentally handicapped youth and youth vulnerable to social exclusion |
PLN 26 000 |
| Polish Center for Human Rights Kraków |
Development of a website featuring information on limitations on access to legal professions |
PLN 5 500 |
| Polish Mediation Center Warsaw |
National contest for gymnasium students entitled I Resolve Disputes Without Violence or What I Know About Corrective Justice |
PLN 22 500 |
| Hear Your Heart Association of a Helping Hand for Deaf People Łódź |
Establishment of a legal helpdesk for deaf people |
PLN 5 000 |
| Socjal Social Welfare Association Braniewo Friends of Integration Association Warsaw |
Managing a free legal and welfare helpdesk for people suffering severe hardships, particularly former prisoners |
PLN 5 000 |
| Friends of Integration Association Warsaw |
Right for the Disabled - free counseling and advocacy of the rights of disabled people |
PLN 46 000 |
| Heart for Children Association Stargard Szczeciński |
Establishment of a legal helpdesk for victims of domestic violence |
PLN 9 000 |
| Iustitia Polish Judges Association Warsaw |
Organization of a series of training seminars for judges |
PLN 39 000 |
| Hope Local Association of Families and Friends of Mentally Ill Individuals Suwałki |
Financial support to the Ombudsman for the Rights of Mentally Ill Patients |
PLN 19 200 |
| Committee for Protection of Children’s Rights Poznań |
Establishment of a helpdesk for children-victims of crime and for their families |
PLN 5 000 |
| Common Knowledge Educational Association Gdańsk |
Program of legal education for students of vocational schools in rural communities |
PLN 4 000 |
| Warsaw University, Social Prevention and Reintegration Institute Warsaw |
Implementation of a research project on legal and social aspects of violence against women |
PLN 19 800 |
| Union of Associations, NGO Parliament Poznań |
Managing a legal helpdesk for non-governmental organizations and needy people |
PLN 8 000 |
Local Civic Anti -Corruption Groups
|
| The Greens Federation Tychy |
Transparent Municipality – monitoring of the relationship between the municipality of Tychy and NGOs implemented by the Civic Anti-Corruption Group from Tychy |
PLN 7 500 |
| Ecological Club Association Wyszków |
Educational contest for youth on anti-corruption issues developed by the Civic Anti-Corruption Group from Wyszków |
PLN 1 500 |
| Association of Civil Society Moderators MOS Pułtusk |
My Country is Transparent – educational contest for youth developed by the Civic Anti-Corruption Group from Pułtusk |
PLN 1 000 |
| Association for the Protection of Civil Rights of the Tatra County Zakopane |
The Civic Anti-Corruption Group from Zakopane managed a consultation and information desk for people who have encountered corruption |
PLN 3 000 |
| Law-Citizen-Democracy Association Wieruszów |
Civic Education - Stop Corruption – establishment by the Civic Anti-Corruption Group from Wieruszów of a consultation and information desk for people who have encountered corruption |
PLN 5 000 |
| Movement for Combating Breast Cancer Association Dębica |
Youth Counters Corruption – meetings, discussions and contests in schools in the Dębica County; project developed by the informal Dębica Anti-Corruption Group |
PLN 4 000 |
| Asocjacje Association for the Support of Social Initiatives Warsaw |
Transparent Grants – monitoring of the relationship between the local government in Warsaw and non-governmental organizations conducted by the Warsaw Anti-Corruption Group |
PLN 7 840 |
| Transparency International Poland Warsaw |
Development of a report on the level of corruption in Poland based on a press review over the past several years |
PLN 20 000 |
Contest for Local Press
|
| Tygodnik Siedlecki Siedlce |
II prize for the editor and for Bożena Łuczewska-Matejek and Mariola Zaczyńska for professionalism and the ability to identify good stories |
PLN 9 000 |
| Dziennik Polski Kraków |
III prize for the editor and for Ewa Krystyna Sierpińska-Nolewajka and Marek Bartłomiej Przymusiński for a regular publication of legal hints |
PLN 7 000 |
| Chrzanów Regional Weekly Przełom Trzebinia |
Recognition for the editor for a regular publication of articles on legal issues |
PLN 3 000 |
| Komu i czemu weekly Radom |
Recognition for Małgorzata Pol-Drzewowska for sensitivity to social issues and consistently addressing family problem solving issues |
PLN 2 000 |
Other Grants and Projects
|
| Womens’ Rights Center Warsaw |
Seminar for experts from Central and Eastern Europe on family violence and sex crime (grant funded by COLPI) |
PLN 90 140 |
| Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University Warsaw |
Conference on Religion and Religious Freedom in the European Union |
PLN 22 000 |
| High School of Police Services Szczytno |
Conference on The European Union: Challenges for the Polish Police |
PLN 5 000 |
| Agata Banasik, Agnieszka Jasiakiewicz, Warsaw University, Michał Kowalski, Jagiellonian University |
Participation in training for University Legal Clinics coordinators in Lithuania (travel cost funded by COLPI) |
PLN 1 242,40 |
| Michał Fajst, Urszula Feltynowska, Monika Płatek, Warsaw University, Krzysztof Pawłowski, Polish Association of Legal Education, Andrzej Światłowski, Jagiellonian University |
Participation in a seminar Enhancing the Sustainability of Street Law-Type Clinics in Law Schools (travel cost funded by COLPI) |
PLN 5 791,03 |
| Danuta Gajdus Warsaw |
Participation in a seminar on probation and mediation in Prague (travel cost funded by COLPI) |
PLN 2 173,25 |
| Voluntary Work |
International seminar organized in collaboration with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law on the legal framework for voluntary work and volunteers in Europe (current status and proposed new legislation) |
PLN 14 512,21 |
| Journalist in Court |
Continuation of the Journalist in Court project implemented in collaboration with the Iustitia Polish Judges Association and the Helsinki Human Rights Foundation: organization of a series of two-day meetings for judges and journalists – court reporters; in 2002 meetings were organized in Lublin, Słupsk and Białystok |
PLN 31 594,41 |
| Citizen in Court |
Continuation of the Citizen in Court project implemented together with the Iustitia Polish Judges Association: development and publication of flyers on Your Rights in Court containing basic legal information for citizens; flyers are available free of charge in courts |
PLN 6 347,20 |
| Reports |
Development and publication of the Polish sections of the reports on the efficiency of judiciary and the situation of Roma communities as part of the EU Accession Monitoring Program (funded by EUAMP) |
PLN 58 310,01 |
| Reviews |
Funding of legal reviews for the team working on the White Paper on NGO Legislation |
PLN 2 400 |
| |
| Grants: |
PLN 1 299 316,68 |
| Seminars, flyers, reviews, reports: |
PLN 113 163,83 |
| Operational costs: |
PLN 162 854,93 |
| TOTAL: |
PLN 1 575 335,44 |
