B. General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12)

Non-discrimination

16. The Committee appreciates the State party’s efforts to combat discrimination. However, it is concerned that:

(a) There is no comprehensive law on prohibition of discrimination on all grounds, in all aspects of life and in all forms, including multiple forms of discrimination;

(b) Gender stereotypes concerning the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society persist;

(c) Children belonging to ethnic, religious, linguistic and other minority groups, including Roma, Arab, Asian and African descendants, Muslims, Jews, non-citizens, including refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children face discrimination and may become targets of hate crimes;

(d) Incidents of racial violence and abuse, including hate speech, are increasing, as are acts of xenophobia and homophobia.

17. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Amend the Law on equal treatment so that it covers the issue of discrimination based on all grounds in all areas, including gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or age, in the fields of education, health care, social protection, housing, and private and family life, and provides for the definition of multiple forms of discrimination;

(b) Amend the Penal Code to define hate speech and other hate crimes motivated by racism, xenophobia and homophobia as specific punishable offences and ensure that such incidents are thoroughly investigated and that perpetrators are brought to justice;

(c) Review and strengthen its measures to prevent and eliminate stereotypes, intolerance and discrimination among the general public and national and local authorities.

Link to full text of the report: Concluding Observations-CRC-Poland-2015-eng