Polish parliament approves child protection law in wake of 8-year-old’s death at hands of stepfather

Polish MPs have almost unanimously approved measures to strengthen the protection of children against violence. The legislation was proposed in the wake of the recent death of an eight-year-old boy, Kamil, at the hands of his stepfather.

The bill, known as “Kamil’s Law”, was supported by every group in parliament apart from the far-right Confederation (Konfederacja) – one of whose leaders warned that sometimes “you have to use violence” against children – and the Libertarians (Wolnościowcy), a small party that broke away from Confederation earlier this year.

How Poland’s parliamentary groups voted on the bill (za = for, przeciw = against)

The legislation was submitted by Sovereign Poland (Suwerenna Polska), one of the parties that makes up Poland’s national-conservative ruling coalition, a few days after the death of Kamil in May.

He had been hospitalised with burns and broken bones allegedly caused by his stepfather’s physical abuse and later died from those injuries. The stepfather and Kamil’s mother have been arrested and are facing life sentences if convicted, reports broadcaster TVN24.

After Kamil’s death, there was criticism of the authorities for not intervening in the case earlier amid warning signs of the abuse he was suffering.

Kamil’s Law would introduce, among other things, clearer procedures for the authorities to take action in cases of suspected abuse – including a new questionnaire for use by social workers, police officers and healthcare professionals – and stronger vetting of staff in facilities that work with children.

It also stipulates that a child who cannot be properly legally represented by their parents should be provided with a court-appointed representative. And it will create an expert body to carry out analysis of serious and fatal cases of child abuse.

Yesterday’s passage of the bill through the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, was welcomed by MPs from across the chamber, many of whom also condemned the far right for opposing it.

“The only freedom they present is the freedom to beat children,” tweeted Monika Rosa, an MP from the liberal Modern (Nowoczesna) party, referring to Confederation’s claims to support freedom. The far-right party was also the only one that did not support tougher new rules against domestic violence earlier this year.

One of the leaders of Confederation, Janusz Korwin-Mikke, criticised the legislation for “disturbing the natural place [of a child] in the family” and “undermining a father’s authority”.

Sometimes “you have to use violence” against a child “because there is no other way”, he argued. “It cannot be that children do what they want.”

The bill now passes to the Senate, where no members of the far right sit and it is almost certain to receive approval. It would then move to President Andrzej Duda, who can sign or veto it.

Main image credit: Grzegorz Skowronek / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Daniel Tilles

Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.