In its annual report on human rights practices around the world, made public today, the State Department says the most pressing human rights problems in Poland involve the nation's judicial system. The report says a lack of public confidence, a cumbersome legal process, and inadequate funding plague the judiciary. Court decisions are frequently not implemented, says the report, particularly those of the administrative courts.
Civil cases can take as long as two or three years, says the report.
Compounding the problem is the fact that many experienced but poorly paid prosecutors and judges left the system for better-paying jobs. The report says the threat of organized crime led to some new legislation in 1997 which could pose a threat to the right of privacy. However, overall, the report says freedom of speech and the press were subject only to minor limitations. Additionally, the report warns that trafficking in women is a growing problem, as is spousal abuse. Inc. All Rights Reserved.