{"id":218,"date":"2017-10-20T15:33:21","date_gmt":"2017-10-20T13:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/archiwumosiatynskiego.pl\/?page_id=218"},"modified":"2022-08-30T19:35:18","modified_gmt":"2022-08-30T17:35:18","slug":"en","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/archiwumosiatynskiego.pl\/en\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski Archive\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Insights and commentary regarding legal developments in Poland<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Poland has been facing an undermining of the rule of law, a compromising of the independence of the judiciary, and risks to guarantees of civil liberties on a scale not seen since 1989. The speed, breadth, and mode of the changes we have witnessed have astounded many both in Poland and abroad. But the response of civil society has also been remarkable \u2013 and shows no signs of abating.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Osiaty\u0144ski Archive<\/b> was established in 2017 in memory of the late Professor Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski, constitutionalist and human rights defender, in order to fulfill his idea of creating a \u201cchronicle of unlawfulness.\u201d Professor Osiaty\u0144ski encouraged people to \u201cmonitor, record, and report about the behavior of those in power when they breach and disrespect the law and the Constitution,\u201d and to provide reliable information about the nature and consequences of such actions to the public (read the biography of Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski below).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Osiaty\u0144ski Archive Council<\/b> has gathered top Polish lawyers, including former judges of the Constitutional Tribunal and the Tribunal of State, legal scholars, judges, attorneys, and civil society activists (see the full list below).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Osiaty\u0144ski Archive is built upon:<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Archive itself<\/b> \u2013 a growing collection of documents, draft laws, analyses, and opinions;<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Debates<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 a platform for expert analysis and commentary;<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

RuleOfLaw.pl\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/span>\u2013 an English-language resource on developments concerning rule of law in Poland;<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Alphabet of Dissent (Alfabet Buntu)<\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 <\/b>a project\u00a0showcasing individuals and civil society initiatives in Poland after 2015.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Support The Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski Archive and help us defend the rule of law in Poland<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski Archive was established in 2017 in memory of the late Professor Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski, prominent constitutionalist and human rights defender, in order to bring his idea of creating a \u2018chronicle of unlawfulness\u2019 to life, and document what is frequently described as the backsliding of the rule of law in Poland.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Professor Osiaty\u0144ski encouraged citizens to \u2018monitor, record and report about the behavior of those in power when they breach and disrespect the law and the Constitution\u2019, and to provide reliable information about the nature and consequences of such actions to the public.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Since December 2017 we have been monitoring, analysing, and explaining threats to the rule of law in Poland, notably far-reaching changes in the justice system and separation of powers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We also cover disputes between the European Union and Poland\u2019s government over rule of law issues, and document attacks on judicial independence, including the intimidation of judges and prosecutors. The Wiktor Osiat\u0144ski Archive is also a platform for substantive discussions about genuine improvements to the justice system and how to guarantee adherence to the rule of law principle in Poland for the future.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As of April 2019, we have published more than 800 articles<\/b>, authored by more than 120 experts<\/b>, and archived more than 500 documents<\/b>, all of which are easily accessible on our website.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Since March 2019, we have also brought information in English to public opinion around the world about the situation in Poland via the Rule of Law in Poland<\/span><\/a> website.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In 2018-2019, we have published profiles of more than 250 individuals and initiatives active in Poland in \u2018The Alphabet of Dissent\u2019<\/span><\/a> [\u2018Alfabet Buntu\u2019], seeking to acknowledge their work and promote civil society activism.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our mission is to sustain public interest in the rule of law and to raise awareness within Polish society about the importance and benefits of respecting rule of law standards. To this end, we have organized debates and lectures in Warsaw featuring renowned lawyers and scholars from Poland and around the world, all open to the general public.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Help us to continue this important project inspired by Professor Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Donate and share information about The Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski Archive.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thank you for your support!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski Archive team<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For inquiries<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

anna.wojcik@archiwumosiatynskiego.pl<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How to donate to The Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski Archive<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Donations can be made through our website or directly to the account:<\/p>\n

Fundacja O\u015brodek Kontroli Obywatelskiej \u201cOKO\u201d (The Centre for Civic Monitoring \u201cOKO\u201d)<\/p>\n

Madali\u0144skiego 73\/75 lok.1,<\/p>\n

02-549 Warszawa, Polska<\/p>\n

Bank Millennium<\/p>\n

IBAN: PL 82 1160 2202 0000 0003 3325 2237<\/p>\n

SWIFT: BIGBPLPW<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The team<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dr. Anna W\u00f3jcik<\/b> – The Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski Archive co-founder and coordinator<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mariusz Ja\u0142oszewski<\/b> – journalist, senior contributing editor, awarded 2021 Iustitita Polish Asssociation of Judges Prize for the rule of law journalism<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kajetan Chlipalski<\/b> – website and social media editor<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

and Piotr Pacewicz<\/b> – the President of the Foundation of Civic Monitoring OKO and the Editor-in-Chief of OKO.press<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Former team members: <\/b>Aleksandra Gieczys-Jurszo, Marcin Kozak, Daniel Flis, Matthew La Fontaine, Maria Pankowska, Rafa\u0142 Zakrzewski, Dr Micha\u0142 Zi\u00f3\u0142kowski.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Former volunteers: <\/b>Marcin Borycki,\u00a0Ma\u0142gorzata Madej<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski Archive Council<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Andrzej Bator<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 philosopher of law in the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics at Wroclaw University.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Piotr Bogdanowicz <\/b>\u2013\u00a0assistant professor in the Law and Administration Faculty of the University of Warsaw, European law expert.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jacek Dubois<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 attorney, Deputy Head of the State Tribunal (2012-2015), Chairperson of the Bronislaw Geremek Foundation and the Zbigniew Holda Association.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Maria Ejchart-Dubois\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 coordinator of Committee in Defense of Judiciary (Komitet Obrony Sprawiedliwo\u015bci KOS), a lawyer associated with the Polish branch of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Chairperson of the Zbigniew Holda Association, member of the Social Council at the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights and the Experts Committee on Crime Prevention Programme.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Monika Florczak-W\u0105tor\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 constitutionalist, Assistant Professor in the Constitutional Law Department of the Faculty of Law and Administration at Jagiellonian University, legal counsel, mediator, and expert at the Constitutional Tribunal Bureau (2004-2017).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof.\u00a0Ma\u0142gorzata Fuszara\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 expert on gender and anti-discrimination issues, Head of the Center for Socio-Legal Studies on the Situation of Women at the University of Warsaw, Head of the University of Warsaw Chancellor\u2019s Anti-Discrimination Committee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dr. Aleksandra Gliszczy\u0144ska-Grabias <\/b>\u2013 expert on the legal means of combatting xenophobia and anti-Semitism, assistant professor at the Human Rights Center of the Institute of Law Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, principal investigator in the European Commission\u2019s \u201cMemory Laws in European and Comparative Perspectives MELA\u201d consortium, Council of Europe expert and Community of Democracies\u2019 Academic Board member.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dr. Barbara Grabowska-Moroz, LLM <\/b>\u2013 research fellow at the Democracy Institute, Central European University. From 2018 to 2021 she was a postdoc researcher in the RECONNECT project (the University of Groningen, the Netherlands). Prior to that, she worked as a lawyer and project coordinator at the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Warsaw, Poland), and as a legal expert in FRANET (multidisciplinary research network of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 attorney, members of Free Courts initiative (Wolne S\u0105dy), \u201c2016 Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year\u201d in the daily Rzeczpospolita\u2019s<\/i> ranking, board member of the Foundation for the Right to Legal Assistance and the Zbigniew Holda Association, founder of \u201cConstitution Week,\u201d a nationwide initiative of lawyers who give lessons about the Polish Constitution in primary and secondary schools.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Maciej Gutowski<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 professor in the Faculty of Law and Administration at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Pozna\u0144, attorney, Head of the Regional Bar Chamber in Pozna\u0144, Co-Chair of the Supreme Bar Council\u2019s Legislative Committee, expert in civil law and civil procedure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Robert Grzeszczak<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 professor in the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw, expert on European Union law, public international law, and constitutional law, member of the Legal Science Committee at the Polish Academy of Sciences (2015-2018).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dr. Krzysztof Izdebski<\/b> \u2013 lawyer, activist, an expert on privacy issues and the rule of law at Stefan Batory Foundation, former program director at ePanstwo Foundation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Ireneusz Kami\u0144ski\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 professor in the Faculty of International Public Law at the Polish Academy of Sciences, ad hoc judge of the European Court of Human Rights (2014-2016), an expert in international law and human rights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Zdzis\u0142aw K\u0119dzia<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 professor in the Faculty of Law and Administration at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Head of the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratization EUIEC in Venice. Chairperson of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2013-16 and 2017-2020).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Maciej Kisilowski\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 professor in the Business School of the Central European University in Budapest, he earned his doctorate from Yale University Law School. Alumnus of Princeton University and Institut Europ\u00e9en d’Administration des Affaires INSEAD in Paris.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Tomasz Tadeusz Koncewicz<\/b> \u2013 professor in the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Gdansk, Fellow at Princeton University\u2019s Program in Law and Public Affairs (2017-2018), 2019 Fernand Braudel Senior Fellow, European University Institute, Florence; expert on constitutional law, European law, and human rights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paulina Kieszkowska-Knapik\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 attorney, member of Free Courts initiative (Wolne S\u0105dy).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wojciech Koz\u0142owski<\/b> \u2013 legal counsel, head of litigation practice at one of Poland\u2019s largest international law firms, an expert on civil and commercial litigation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Ewa \u0141\u0119towska<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 professor at the Institute of Law Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, member of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Polish Academy of Learning, served as Poland\u2019s first Commissioner for Human Rights (1987-1992), judge of the Supreme Administrative Court (1999-2002) and judge of the Constitutional Tribunal (2002-2011).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Krystian Markiewicz <\/b>\u2013 judge, professor at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Head of the Polish Judges Association \u201cIustitia\u201d, an expert in civil law and civil procedure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Marcin Matczak <\/b>\u2013 philosopher of law, professor at the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw, associated also with the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Oxford, legal counsel, admitted to the Regional Chamber of Legal Advisers in Warsaw.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Justyna Metelska<\/b> \u2013 human rights attorney with experience in representing clients at the European Court of Human Rights, previously trained at the ECHR Office, an expert on the Council of Europe, and Head of the Human Rights Committee at the Supreme Bar Council.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Draginja Nada\u017cdin<\/b> \u2013 former director of the Polish branch of Amnesty International.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Miko\u0142aj Pietrzak<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 criminal and human rights attorney, Head of the Regional Bar Association in Warsaw, listed member of the Office of Public Counsel for Defence at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Edward J. Wende Award winner in 2014, co-founder and board member of the Zbigniew Holda Association.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dr. Adam Ploszka<\/b> \u2013 attorney, Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute, formerly an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw, human rights lawyer associated with the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and a private law firm, member of the Expert Committee on Countering Homelessness created by the Human Rights Commissioner’s Office.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Monika P\u0142atek<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 criminal law and criminology professor in the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw, Open Society Foundation and Council of Europe expert, founder of the Association for Legal Education, board member of the \u201cPanoptykon\u201d Foundation, feminist, politician, recipient of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2012).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Ryszard Piotrowski\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 constitutional law expert, professor in the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Danuta Przywara\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 a former chairperson and co-founder of the Polish branch of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, sociologist, and activist, awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta (2011), the Bene Merito Award (2011), and the Jerzy Zimowski Award (2013).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Wojciech Sadurski<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 constitutionalist, professor at the Sydney University Law School, professor at the European Center at the University of Warsaw. Dean of the Department of Law at the European University Institute in Florence (2003-2006).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Adam Strzembosz <\/b>\u2013 a judge, Deputy Minister of Justice (1989-1990), First President of the Supreme Court and the President of the Tribunal of State (1990-1998), awarded the Order of the White Eagle, the highest Polish order, in 2012.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jerzy St\u0119pie\u0144 <\/b>\u2013\u00a0senator (1989-1993), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1989-1993), Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs (1997-1999), Chairman of the Constitutional Tribunal (2006-2008), director of the Lech Wa\u0142\u0119sa Institute since 2016.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Krzysztof St\u0119pi\u0144ski <\/b>\u2013\u00a0attorney, judge from 1974 to 1983.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*Krzysztof \u015amiszek, Ph.D.<\/b> \u2013 Member of Parliament since 2019, a lawyer associated with the University of Warsaw Human Rights Institute, human rights and minority rights activist, co-founder of the Anti-Discrimination Law Association<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Maciej Taborowski<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 attorney, Dr. Hab., Professor at the Institute of Legal Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights (2019-2022), member of the Team of Legal Experts of the Stefan Batory Foundation, The Good Lobby Profs, and the Zbigniew Ho\u0142da Association.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tomasz Wardy\u0144ski<\/b> \u2013 attorney, arbiter, an expert in arbitrage, an expert in civil, commercial, and competition law, awarded the Order of the British Empire (2001).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Roman Wieruszewski<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Head of the Human Rights Center at the Institute of Law Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, member of the Scientific Committee of the European Agency of Fundamental Rights (FRA) in Vienna, UN Human Rights Committee member (1998-2000, 2003-2006), member of the UN Council of Refugees (1999-2014).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Micha\u0142 Wawrykiewicz <\/b>\u2013 attorney, member of Free Courts initiative (Wolne S\u0105dy).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Miros\u0142aw Wyrzykowski\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 Head of the Legal Sciences Committee at the Polish Academy of Sciences (2011-2015), Constitutional Tribunal judge (2001-2010), former dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Jerzy Zajad\u0142o<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 philosopher of law, professor in the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Gdansk.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prof. Eleonora Zieli\u0144ska<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 criminal law professor in the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw, member of the Tribunal of State (2004-2005), government plenipotentiary on gender equality (2014-2015).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* members of the Advisory Board who agreed to suspend their membership for the time when they serve as MPs in the Polish Sejm<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Patron<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Wiktor<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski <\/strong>(1945-2017) was best known for being a constitutionalist and human rights defender. Professor Osiaty\u0144ski was also a writer, social activist and feminist, an alcoholism-combatting, recovering alcoholic and one of the authors of the 1997 Polish Constitution.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His writings were based in solid logic. His radio shows were full of passion and cordiality. He was an outstanding educator, and a loved one at that. He helped raise generations of lawyers and human rights activists.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He held PhDs in law and sociology, and was for many years a professor in the Legal Sciences Committee at the Polish Academy of Sciences. He was also a professor at Central European University in Budapest and a visiting professor at Columbia University, Stanford University and Harvard University.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the 1990s, Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski ran the Research Center on Constitutionalism in Eastern Europe based in Chicago. He served as an advisor to the Polish Senate and National Assembly\u2019s constitutional committees in 1997 while working on the new Polish Constitution, for which he was awarded the Officer\u2019s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. In 2011, he was awarded again, this time with the Commander’s Cross for „outstanding service in shaping the democratic rule of law and acting towards strengthening civil society.\u201d He was also awarded the Pawel Wlodkowic 2016 Award, the Barbara Skarga Award For Brave Thinking in 2016, as well as the 2011 Jerzy Zimowski Award.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He worked with the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights where he initiated the creation of its Precedented Cases Program. He was also a board member of the Bronislaw Geremek Foundation. As a staunch feminist, he helped create the Women\u2019s Party, and as recovering alcoholic, he initiated the creation of the Alcoholism Education Commission at the Batory Foundation. Professor Osiaty\u0144ski published a few dozen books that covered political philosophy, constitutionalism, human rights, history, and the political doctrines of the USA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Wiktor Osiaty\u0144ski Archive\u00a0   Insights and commentary regarding legal developments in Poland   Poland has been facing an undermining of the rule of law, a compromising of the independence of the judiciary, and risks to guarantees of civil liberties on a scale not seen since 1989. The speed, breadth, and mode of the changes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/page-full-width.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archiwumosiatynskiego.pl\/oculus-api\/wp\/v2\/pages\/218"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archiwumosiatynskiego.pl\/oculus-api\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archiwumosiatynskiego.pl\/oculus-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archiwumosiatynskiego.pl\/oculus-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archiwumosiatynskiego.pl\/oculus-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/archiwumosiatynskiego.pl\/oculus-api\/wp\/v2\/pages\/218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23575,"href":"https:\/\/archiwumosiatynskiego.pl\/oculus-api\/wp\/v2\/pages\/218\/revisions\/23575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archiwumosiatynskiego.pl\/oculus-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}