The term of the current ombudsman ends on December 14 - there is enough time for the Sejm's choice to be confirmed by the Senate.
Monika Horna-Cieślak elected by the Sejm to the office of Children's Rights Ombudsman
Published Nov. 29, 2023 07:43
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- This is not the office of a political party or one man. It's supposed to be a tube for children and young people. They don't always have to take to the streets to express their opinions," said attorney Horna-Cieślak on Monday, when the Parliamentary Education Committee gave its opinion on her candidacy. Horna-Cieślak also stressed the importance of the mental health of children and adolescents, indicating that this is one of the areas she wants to address first. She also pledged support for sex education - calling for a distinction between sex education, which children and young people need if only to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation, and erotic education, or eroticization.
- Dear children, in just a few moments you will have a real spokesperson. A person for whom you will be the most important. A person with a heart on his hand," argued Marzena Okła-Drewnowicz (KO) during the discussion on the appointment of the RPD, which took place on Tuesday at the beginning of the next day of the first session of the Sejm. - The Ombudsman for Children will never again turn a blind eye when harm is done to you. This we promise you," she stressed. During Okla-Drewnowicz's speech, a large group of Law and Justice (PiS) deputies left the room in a demonstrative manner.
The Sejm elected a new ombudsman for children's rights with an absolute majority. 246 deputies voted for her candidacy (KO, TD, Left; Paweł Kukiz of the Kukiz'15 circle also voted for her, while 195 were against (a majority of Law and Justice, Confederation and Marek Jakubiak of Kukiz'15).
Monika Horna-Cieślak is an attorney, activist and social activist. She worked at the foundation Dajemy Dzieciom Siłę. She is a member of the Human Rights Commission at the Supreme Bar Council, chairwoman of the Children's Rights Section and a member of the Commission for Cooperation with the Courts at the District Bar Council in Warsaw. Recently, she co-authored the so-called Kamilka Law, because one of the areas in which she is particularly active is the prevention of violence against children.
