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Poland's upper house endorses new ombudswoman

22.07.2026 23:30
Polish senators on Wednesday approved the appointment of lawyer and human rights advocate Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram as the country's new ombudswoman for civic rights, clearing the way for her to take office.
Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram
Sylwia Gregorczyk-AbramPAP/Marcin Obara

The upper house of parliament voted 59-25, with no abstentions, to endorse Gregorczyk-Abram after she won backing from the lower house last week.

She will succeed Marcin Wiącek whose five-year term as ombudsman ends on Thursday.

Addressing senators before the vote, Gregorczyk-Abram said Poland's constitution served as a charter of human rights and pledged to defend the rights of all citizens regardless of their political views.

"The office of the commissioner for civic rights should be a place of dialogue," she said.

She also pledged to make her office more accessible to citizens nationwide.

Gregorczyk-Abram, 43, said she had spent more than two decades defending human rights in courtrooms and working with people who had been failed by the state.

Among her priorities, she said she would seek to address lengthy court proceedings, arguing that citizens' right to justice is undermined when they must wait years for final rulings.

Gregorczyk-Abram said she would place particular emphasis on protecting the rights of people with disabilities and older citizens.

(gs)

Source: IAR/PAP