Warsaw– the funding of Poland– is a city marked by resilience and makeover. As a political and cultural centre, it’s also the heart of the country’s human rights movement. Over the last few years, Poland has come to be a battleground for basic freedoms, with intense protests for reproductive legal rights and sex equality, the strike on LGBTQ+ individuals , and the efforts to protect evacuees, getting here from Ukraine and those at the Belarusian boundary
With these battles on top of the country’s political schedule, the job of human rights organisations in Warsaw is of utmost value. This is why we assembled this write-up highlighting some of one of the most noteworthy civils rights charities supporting for human rights, defending equality and requiring justice. Here are 11 human rights charities operating in Warsaw, Poland:
Running since 1992, Polish Good Samaritan Action (PAH) is just one of Poland’s biggest and most important humanitarian organisations. Dedicated to offering humanitarian help in crisis-affected regions around the world, PAH aids make certain vulnerable populations’ civils rights, providing emergency alleviation, accessibility to tidy water, sanitation, food protection, and education and learning in dispute areas and areas hit by natural calamities.
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While PAH operates worldwide, it additionally plays a significant role in Polish domestic altruistic issues, aiding evacuees, specifically those arriving from Ukraine and those stranded at the Belarus-Poland boundary. The organisation also provides direct aid such as sanctuary, food, and lawful assistance to displaced individuals, while working to raise recognition about humanitarian situations through media and advocacy campaigns.
The Helsinki Structure of Human Rights (HFHR) is the oldest non-governmental organisation ( NGO working with the defense of human rights in Poland. The organisation provides legal assistance, performs tactical lawsuits, and provides curricula that support the civil culture. HFHR is additionally recognized for its efforts to keep an eye on and influence Poland’s legal structure, guaranteeing it lines up with international civils rights requirements.
With over 3 years of experience, the foundation proactively interferes in precedent-setting legal instances, talk about regulations, and suggests amendments to much better safeguard rights. It takes part in campaigning for by preparing reports for global bodies and meeting with international reps. HFHR likewise aids shape public discussion through academic products, events, and cooperations with other NGOs.
The Polish branch of the world-renowned organisation, Amnesty International is a principal in the country’s human rights scene. The organisation engages in a vast array of issues appropriate in Poland and past, consisting of freedom of speech , refugee legal rights and LGBTQ civil liberties
Amnesty International Poland has actually additionally been at the leading edge of the reproductive rights battle in Poland, which in the last few years obtained considerable focus from different human rights groups. Under the Legislation and Justice event, access to abortion has actually been curtailed even in lethal situations, placing pregnant people’s wellness, and even life , at risk. On top of advocating for reproductive rights, Amnesty has likewise supported protestors , such as Justyna Wydrzynska, that in January 2025 was prosecuted for assisting a lady looking for abortion by giving her with abortion tablets. They have actually been campaigning for the reversal of her conviction, suggesting that the situation stands for a strike on reproductive civil liberties and flexibility of principles.
Founded in 2001, War Homophobia is just one of Poland’s leading LGBTQ+ advocacy companies KPH services lawful reforms, offering legal support to individuals dealing with discrimination based on sexual preference or sex identification. They focus on increasing awareness regarding LGBTQ+ concerns and promoting for equivalent legal rights, while also supplying emotional and legal help to LGBTQ+ people in need.
The organisation increased to prominence in 2003, introducing a presence project called “Let Them See Us” that included photographs of same-sex pairs holding hands in public areas. This campaign was genuinely groundbreaking at the time, as the topic of homosexuality remained in the margins of public discussion and mostly thought about a taboo. While the project has not been without its disputes (including a considerable pushback and vandalism to the billboards), it launched the topic of homosexuality to the mainstream public discussion and contributed to conversations about social bias
Ever since, the organisation continued its work on LGBTQ+ campaigning for, with efforts such as” Rainbow Friday in 2015 (looking for to develop a safer and much more comprehensive setting for LGBTQ+ pupils in schools) or an “Emergency Apartment” initiative that assists young queer individuals experiencing being homeless in Warsaw.
The Facility for Keeping An Eye On Bigotry and Xenophobia is, as the name suggests, a guard dog organisation concentrated on recording and resolving instances of racism, prejudice , and dislike criminal activities, happening in Poland. The organisation works by collecting information on discrimination situations, offering legal support to sufferers, and promoting lawful reforms to shield racial and ethnic minorities. They frequently publish records that clarify the prevalence and nature of such offences.
A specifying and controversial moment came in 2017 when cops robbed OMZRiK’s Białystok office and the affiliated ThreeRivers Theatre. The company condemned the raid as politically encouraged, viewing it as an effort to silence objection of climbing nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiment. Founder Rafał Gaweł’s 2019 jail sentence, widely viewed as politically driven, led him to look for asylum in Norway, attracting international worry. His situation highlighted the growing stress on civil society in Poland and sealed OMZRiK’s role in safeguarding autonomous liberties and minority legal rights.
Developed in 2007, in reaction to the increasing migration challenges in Poland, the Polish Migration Online Forum Foundation is an organisation supporting travelers and refugees in browsing lawful, social, and social obstacles they get in as they relocate to Poland. The company provides mental assistance, lawful aid, language courses, and work coaching, aiding newcomers incorporate right into Polish society. PMF is specifically known for its trauma-informed psychological health and wellness support, providing counselling and workshops for both adults and youngsters.
During the Belarus– Poland boundary dilemma, PMF set up a temporary office near the boundary to provide urgent legal aid and altruistic assistance to asylum applicants. The structure also functions to challenge anti-migrant stories through education and plan campaigning for. The foundation is also an energetic member of several networks , consisting of the Movement Consortium, International Detention Coalition and the European Network of Traveler Female.
# 7 Batory Structure (Fundacja im. Stefana Batorego)
Named after the 16 th-century Polish king– Stefan Batory– the Batory Foundation is one of Poland’s most noticeable independent foundations, working to strengthen democracy , civil society, and civils rights. Established in May 1988, by American philanthropist George Soros and a group of Polish democratic resistance leaders from the 1980 s, consisting of Bronisław Geremek and Leszek Kołakowski, the organisation funds jobs that test government overreach, assistance grassroots activism, and defend democratic values.
In recent times, the foundation has actually been especially energetic in checking political elections, promoting for judicial independence, and resisting autonomous backsliding. By promoting an involved and educated culture, the Batory Foundation plays an important duty in securing Poland’s autonomous establishments from tyrannical hazards
Female’s Rights Centre (Centrum Praw Kobiet) is an organisation that for over 30 years has actually been at the leading edge of combating gender-based violence and discrimination in Poland. Offering legal aid, emotional support, and emergency sanctuary to ladies dealing with residential abuse, the company also pushes for stronger legislations to secure survivors. In a nation where access to justice for women remains an uphill struggle, the Centre has actually been a lifeline for thousands, offering not just direct assistance yet also leading campaigns to transform public perspectives and legislation.
Among its core accomplishments, the Centre has played a significant function in the application of the Anti-Violence Convention (Istanbul Convention) in Poland and continues to deal with versus efforts to take out from it. Regardless of political reaction and hostilities from the conservative, it remains an important force in advocating for females’s rights and sex equality. With offices in several Polish cities and a 24/ 7 helpline, it remains among the most trusted organisations for females seeking both prompt assistance and long-term justice.
# 9 La Strada (Fundacja Przeciwko Handlowi Kobietami)
La Strada Foundation is Poland’s leading organization committed to eliminating human trafficking , compelled labour, and modern-day enslavement. Founded in 1995 as component of the international La Strada network, it focuses on prevention, straight assistance to survivors, and advocacy for systemic modification. The foundation uses detailed assistance to trafficking victims: lawful aid, emotional therapy, secure holiday accommodation, and assistance in browsing intricate administrative processes. A number of those it aids are migrants, females, and youngsters that have actually been tricked by incorrect task offers or entraped in violent working problems.
Past specific support, La Strada plays a vital duty in elevating recognition about trafficking risks among susceptible communities. It organizes training sessions for law enforcement, border guards, and social workers to boost the identification and defense of sufferers. Public education and learning projects, consisting of social media sites efforts and college outreach, purpose to avoid trafficking before it takes place. Throughout the years, La Strada has come to be a highly regarded voice fit Poland’s anti-trafficking policies, advocating for more survivor-centered regulations and defenses in an environment where exploitation commonly remains hidden
Considering that its starting in 1996, the Never Again Association has been just one of Poland’s most energetic teams fighting racism, xenophobia, and far-right extremism. Known for its thorough tracking of hate crimes and despise speech, it records incidents that frequently go unreported, creating one of the most trustworthy data sources on extremist task in the country. The organization additionally services public education, running projects that advertise tolerance and historic understanding, especially about the Holocaust, racial discrimination, and various other forms of discrimination.
Among Never Again’s most significant tasks is the “Let’s Kick Bigotry Out of Stadiums” campaign, focused on dealing with bigotry in Polish football society– a project that has actually gotten worldwide interest. They additionally partner with songs celebrations, publishing houses, and youth organizations to spread anti-racist messages and stop the normalization of hate. Through advocacy, education and learning, and public treatments, Never ever Once again stands as an essential pressure standing up to the resurgence of far-right ideological backgrounds in Poland’s political and social life.
The Freedom Foundation is a feminist organization dedicated to taking apart systemic inequalities and equipping ladies, women, and marginalized areas in Poland. Founded in 2007, the structure tests patriarchal norms and structures through a mix of education and learning, advocacy, and grassroots arranging. Its work revolves around three main pillars: protecting against gender-based physical violence, advertising gender equality, and promoting management and public engagement among those usually pushed to the margins of public life.
Among Freedom’s signature efforts is the “Power and Voice” program, which combines self-defence training with consciousness-raising workshops that teach ladies and women to insist their legal rights, set limits, and develop confidence in public and personal spaces. The structure likewise engages in intersectional activism: sustaining LGBTQ+ legal rights, migrant justice, and anti-racist reasons, acknowledging that gender-based discrimination typically overlaps with various other kinds of fascism. In a country where feminist advocacy typically encounters political resistance, the structure stands out as a strong, unapologetic force for social improvement.