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Human Rights in Public Service
The Foundation of Dignity and Humanity: Symposium on Human Rights in Public Service
Human rights do not stop at the doors of a police station or the walls of a prison cell. They are universal values that must guide every form of public service – from arrests and court rulings to the daily duties of uniformed officers. These principles were at the heart of the 1st Silesian Scientific Symposium “Human Rights in Public Service: Theory and Practice”, held at WSB University.
As highlighted by Professor Zdzisława Dacko-Pikiewicz, Rector of WSB University:
"Human rights are a key issue not only for uniformed service professionals, but for every citizen. This symposium is an opportunity to develop recommendations for lawmakers. Meetings like today – where academia meets public service – can truly help improve the realities of many institutions where people serve in uniform."
The symposium brought together both academics and practitioners – representatives of the Police, the Prison Service, and the justice system.
Professor Marek Walancik, Head of the Department of Pedagogy at WSB University, emphasized: "Respect for human rights in the penitentiary system is a key element of public service. We all form part of this service – and it is a significant challenge. This symposium at WSB University will help us face that challenge effectively."
One of the Honorary Guests was Col. Renata Niziołek, Director General of the Prison Service. In her speech, she underscored the importance of professionalism in working with incarcerated individuals: "A Prison Service officer must be professional. To achieve this, they must know and understand how to observe human rights, how to implement them, and how to carry out sentences in a humane manner, with respect for human dignity. This is of special importance to us, which is why I’m glad to take part in this event that brings together so many Prison Service professionals."
Judge Agata Stankiewicz-Rataj, President of the District Court in Katowice, spoke of the dialogue between theory and practice: "This symposium is purely added value. When theory meets practice, we can find the best solutions. Sometimes we don’t need to change the law – we simply need to apply it properly."
Police representatives also participated. Chief Inspector Mariusz Krzystyniak, Provincial Commander of the Police in Katowice, emphasized the importance of control and transparency:
"In the Police, even anonymous reports concerning human rights and civil liberties are examined. We protect human rights both externally – toward citizens – and internally within the service. No signal is ever ignored. We have an appointed Human Rights Officer, and we’re supervised by other institutions, including Penitentiary Judges, the Ombudsman, and the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture."
Notable attendees also included:
- SSA Robert Kirejew – Vice-President, Court of Appeals in Katowice
- Prosecutor Jakub Cem – Regional Prosecutor, Katowice
- Col. Paweł Piątkowski – Commander, 13th Silesian Territorial Defense Brigade
- Dariusz Palmirski – Chair, National Council of Probation Officers
- Col. Dariusz Kaminiów – Head, Central Military Recruitment Center (Katowice Branch)
- Senior Brigadier Damian Legierski – Provincial Fire Service Commander (Silesia)
- Dr hab. Aleksandra Wentkowska, prof. UŚ – Ombudsman’s Regional Representative in Katowice
- Grzegorz Mucha – Director, Security and Crisis Management Department, Silesian Voivodeship Office
The scale of human rights challenges in public service is significant – in Silesia alone, there are 15 police detention facilities and a juvenile detention center with a capacity of up to 30 children. Annually, around 22,000 people are processed through these facilities – a daily, often invisible effort by officers who must act efficiently and in compliance with human rights.
The symposium was divided into two plenary sessions, and participants had the opportunity to speak directly with experts at designated consultation points hosted by representatives of the Ombudsman, Police, Prison Service, District Court in Katowice, and WSB University.
The event reaffirmed that only through close cooperation between academia and public institutions can we strengthen ethical and legal standards in the everyday work of uniformed services. The 1st Silesian Scientific Symposium made an important contribution to that goal.