Poland

 

Conscription:

No

Suspended in 2009 by amendment of the Constitution.

Conscientious objection:

1988

First recognised in Constitution, Art. 85.

Service

 

Military:

-

 

Civilian:

-

 

Minimum

 

Conscription:

-

No conscription

Voluntary enlistment:

18

In accordance to the Article 58 point 1 of the law about the common military service the volunteers can report when completing 18 year of age. During mobilization and war the minimum age of conscripts is just like peacetime – 18 years. The law does not consider the human rights regarding conscientious objection for the professional member of the military.

More

https://ebco-beoc.org/poland including the reply of the Commissioner for Human Rights to the Questionnaire about EBCO’s Annual Report 2022 (e-mail on 10/02/2023).

According to the reply of the Commissioner for Human Rights to the Questionnaire about EBCO’s Annual Report 2022 (e-mail on 10/02/2023):

According to the case law of the Polish administrative courts, the services for defense purposes (świadczenia na rzecz obrony) cannot be equated with military service and are not covered by constitutional and international norms on conscientious objection[1]. Therefore, no exemption can be granted from them on grounds of conscience. This position has been lately confirmed in two rulings of the Supreme Administrative Court of Poland[2]. Although it can be argued that the relationship between some national defense services and the military sphere may be sufficiently strong to attract the guarantees arising from Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights[3], this line of argumentation has not been reflected in the Polish case law yet. Taking into consideration the legal practice to date, this may continue to pose certain problems particularly for Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

 

[1] See more: W. Brzozowski, “Sprzeciw sumienia wobec świadczeń na rzecz obrony” [Conscientious objection to national defence services], Przegląd Sądowy, 3/2022, pp. 35-52 (hereinafter referred to as “W. Brzozowski 2022”).

[2] II OSK 1259/18 (issued 12.03.2020) and II OSK 1434/18 (issued 1.12.2020).

[3] W. Brzozowski 2022, 46 ff.