Sylwia Gregorczyk‑Abram appointed Poland's new human rights commissioner

The Polish Senate approved the appointment of Sylwia Gregorczyk‑Abram as the next Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich (RPO), the national human‑rights commissioner. The vote on 22 July recorded 59 in favour and 25 against, with no abstentions. The Sejm majority had already endorsed her candidacy, and she will replace Professor Marcin Wiącek, whose five‑year term ends on 23 July.

Gregorczyk‑Abram is a Warsaw‑born lawyer, a longtime defender of civil liberties and co‑founder of the Free Courts initiative. She previously chaired a parliamentary commission examining state repression against civil‑society actors. In her acceptance speech she emphasized the Constitution as a charter of human rights and pledged to serve all citizens impartially, regardless of political affiliation.

The RPO position carries a ministerial‑level salary, with a base of roughly 16 000 zł gross per month that can rise to over 19 000 zł after seniority and other allowances. The office employs about 300 staff across Warsaw, Gdańsk, Katowice and Wrocław and operates on a 2026 budget of 92 million zł. The commissioner can submit constitutional complaints and file cassation appeals to Poland’s highest courts, giving the role significant oversight over the country’s legal framework.