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1. Youth parliament

2. Youth councils and/or youth advisory boards

3. Higher education student union(s)

4. School student union(s)

5. Other bodies

Youth parliament

The Polish political system provides no comprehensive solution to the youth question. Although there are legislative pathways enabling dialogue between youth and policy makers at various levels of political authority, they do not form a coherent and effective system. 

Issues concerning the inclusion of all youth groups

There are no specific programmes encouraging young people with fewer opportunities or at risk of exclusion to increase their participation in representative bodies. In the case of the process of effective consultation and opinion seeking, the way in which children and youth representations are selected is more likely to attract elites, outstanding individuals with high social, economic or cultural capital than youth at risk of exclusion. For example, neither of the positions described above provides for mechanisms guaranteeing that disabled young people, those living in rural areas or those discriminated against in any way will have a sufficient representation at national level. Although the demand to equalise opportunities is relatively well adopted at the level of programme beneficiaries, in Poland the concept of “those excluded” from being full members of groups “representing” young people and their interests before the authority is something rather “unthinkable” in Poland.

Structure

There is no bona fide children and youth parliament in Poland operating as an institution elected by general election and thus possessing democratic legitimacy. The Children and Youth Parliament (Sejm Dzieci i Młodzieży) is a representative institution in name only. In reality, this is an educational project of the Polish Parliament Chancellery and is not an element of the legal system. Its nature is purely didactic, consultative and opinion-forming. In addition to the Polish Parliament Chancellery, the Ministry of National Education and several other entities, including non-governmental entities, participate in its organisation.

Composition  

In light of the absence of a democratically elected youth parliament, the Children and Youth Parliament sometimes plays the role of a forum bringing attention to issues considered important by young Poles. The Children and Youth Parliament brings together 460 students of lower and upper secondary schools who are selected on the basis of competitions. Young deputies are appointed for a term of one year and they meet once a year at a plenary session.

Role and responsibilities

Each term of the Children and Youth Parliament focusses on a specific keynote topic. Apart from that, plenary sessions offer Parliament members an opportunity to present their viewpoints, opinions and proposals concerning the activities of authorities, especially those governing education, aimed at the improvement of children’s and young people’s situation. The Children and Youth Parliament adopts resolutions which are subsequently submitted to representatives of the legislature and the executive. Plenary sessions held by the Children and Youth Parliament include speakers and deputy speakers of the upper and lower houses as well as selected members of Parliament. Sessions of the Children and Youth Parliament enjoy impressive media coverage which contributes to raising public awareness of children’s and young people’s problems. 

The Children and Youth Parliament has been operating since 1994 and was the first such initiative in Europe. The Parliament’s goal is to promote parliamentarianism among young people. During most terms of office so far, the main topics have had little relation to global problems, tending to focus on national ones. There have been, nonetheless, some notable exceptions, for instance Europe, a dialogue of cultures  (2002), Ecology, a choice for the future (2006) and My country in the face of globalisation processes. In recent years, there has been a notable tendency towards turning away from the issues of the future (and global matters) and towards the past and local, country matters (e.g. Sites of memory - material heritage of crucial events for local and national community in 2016, Parliament Members of the Second Polish Republic, their fates and activities during the Second World War and Occupation in 2019). The term of office is one year, and the only session in the year is held on 1 June, Children’s Day. In 2018, there were some significant changes in this respect, the session was moved to September due to the ongoing strike of parents of disabled children. Due to a grass-roots protest, some of the participants of the Children and Youth Parliament held their session outside of Sejm (on the grounds of the University of Warsaw). The 2020 sessions was called off due to concerns around the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Children and Youth Parliament resumed activity. At the start of 2022, prompted by students from middle and high schools, a discussion forum for youth to communicate with specialists from various fields was created. Such meetings are organized by the Polish Senate under the name of the Senate Chats (Gadka Senacka). Thus far, 15 such meetings have taken place to discuss matters like gender equality, refugee status, and the law.

Funding 

The Children and Youth Parliament has no legal personality which is why it does not possess any financial resources nor does it make decisions on the distribution of public funds. It can only suggest certain activities in this field. The organisational costs of the Children and Youth Parliament are covered by the Chancellery of Polish Parliament and the other organisers.

Youth councils and/or youth advisory boards

It is difficult to present a synthetic description of the whole system of youth organisations operating in Poland as there are significant differences between bodies representing young people. The latest elections from October 2023 led to significant change of the country’s leadership. Due to strong polarization and the conflict between the two main political camps, significant changes are occurring in the functioning of the state. This also affects the inclusion of youth into decision-making. The previous government established a number of youth councils at various ministries (e.g. education, justice, environment). In many cases, membership in those councils was neither open, nor representative, and consisted of activists from the ruling party’s youth wing (or people otherwise associated with the government). Some of those councils have been dissolved by the current government, without any advisory bodies being established in their place so far.  Regional and local bodies representing young people are better empowered by the legal system thanks to statutory provisions. However, a great extent of their scope of activity is not standardised which is why there are immense differences in the process of recruitment and the role, scope of responsibility and possibilities of tangible action. 

Structure

The Polish Council of Youth Organisations (PROM - Polska Rada Organizacji Młodzieżowych) It is an independent non-governmental organisation from a legal viewpoint. PROM coordinates structured dialogue activities in Poland which, in the light of European law, serves the role of the National Youth Council and works in the context of the European Union’s Youth Dialogue.

The activity of municipal youth councils and communal youth councils is regulated .in very general terms, and is based on the statutory norms adopted by particular municipal councils. Those councils can be created on the basis of article 5b of the Act on municipal government, (introduced in an update in 2001), which allows for a creation of such a council based on a petition of the local youth. In 2018, the parliament voted down an amend that would make those councils mandatory in each municipality. The 2021 amendment also did not introduce that obligation. In 2021, acts on commune, county and voivodeship self-government have all been amended, as well as the activities of voluntary services and public benefit organizations (ustawa o zmianie ustawy o samorządzie gminnym, ustawy o samorządzie powiatowym, ustawy o samorządzie wojewódzkim oraz ustawy o działalności pożytku publicznego i o wolontariacie). Those amendments have improved the previous legal framework on youth councils, introduced the possibility to establish them on county and voivodeship levels, and have endowed them with new, specific powers.  

Composition

Membership of the Polish Council of Youth Organisations is open to any youth organisation who adhere to the following criteria: Any youth organisation operating in accordance with Polish law, co-administered by people under 35 and with at least 2/3 of members under 35, or those bringing together young people as an association or a legal person with organisational structures described in their statutes and with at least 2/3 of members under 35. The Polish Council of Youth Organisations is open to public, nationwide and regional organisations and to those which bring together particular groups of youth (e.g.: students). Each of those categories of organisations has its separate structure in the Council. Representatives of all full members (organisations) of the Polish Council of Youth Organisations elect a ten-strong management board from among themselves which takes a vote to elect the authorities of the association. Individuals sitting on the Council’s management board are delegated by their own organisations but it is their duty to represent the interests of all young people in Poland.  

In Poland, young people’s public participation is considered mainly in the context of local governments as the activities of youth councils in municipalities (gminy), which are seen as important institutions for activating young people in municipal self-governments. However, at statutory level, this is regulated in very general terms, and is based on the statutory norms adopted by particular municipal councils. Those councils can be created on the basis of article 5b of the Act on municipal government, (introduced in an update in 2001), which allows for a creation of such a council based on a petition of the local youth. In 2018, the parliament voted down an amend that would make those councils mandatory in each municipality. The 2021 amendment also did not introduce that obligation. In 2021, acts on commune, county and voivodeship self-government have all been amended, as well as the activities of voluntary services and public benefit organizations (ustawa o zmianie ustawy o samorządzie gminnym, ustawy o samorządzie powiatowym, ustawy o samorządzie wojewódzkim oraz ustawy o działalności pożytku publicznego i o wolontariacie). Those amendments have improved the previous legal framework on youth councils, introduced the possibility to establish them on county and voivodeship levels, and have endowed them with new, specific powers. Those changes have been enacted as a part of the European Union’s Youth Strategy 2019-2027, which involves supporting the participation of young people in civic and democratic life. At the end of 2017 there have been 408 municipal youth councils in Poland (for about 2500 total municipalities in the country), which would mean that about 16% of municipalities have one. The bigger the municipality, the more likely it is to have a council - such councils function in almost 32% of urban municipalities, but only in 8% of rural ones. 2022 data gathered by the Government’s Plenipotentiary for Youth Politics suggest that the number of municipal youth councils rose to 533, and that they are active in 71 counties. However, analysis of data presented in the report The youth’s self-governance (Młodzieżowa samorządność w Polsce. Analiza i dalsza perspektywa) shows that the number of active youth councils is distinctly lower: in 2020, there were 361, and the count decreased to 242 in 2021. According to the report’s authors, this is partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and partially because of the “lack of central action in the field of improving and regulating the situation of youth consultation bodies.” It is worth noting that in the Parliament, a task group for supporting municipal youth groups has been functioning since 2016. 

Role and responsibilities

The objectives of the Polish Council of Youth Organisations include: “boosting the voices and potentials of youth and youth organizations through advocacy and supporting active participation of youth in public and political life, as well as establishing spaces for cooperation and experience sharing”. However, its principal role is to undertake activities aimed at the creation of a coherent and modern youth policy in Poland. The Council also represents its member organisations before the public sector and other circles; disseminates information and promotes the activity of youth organisations bringing together young people and acting on their behalf. As it was mentioned before PROM coordinates structured dialogue activities in Poland which, in the light of European law, serves the role of the National Youth Council and works in the context of the European Union’s Youth Dialogue. 

The communal and municipal youth councils  serve the function of representing the youth of a given area and are supposed to make the local government aware of the needs of young inhabitants, as well as to opine on the local government’s actions in areas of youth interest. As such, they are consultative, advisory, and initiative-focused. They can opine legislation affecting youth and participate in policy-making in areas of youth interest, as well as survey its enactment. 

Funding

Polish bodies representing young people seldom have a real opportunity to influence the distribution of funds. The costs of the activities undertaken by them and their day to day operational costs are usually covered by direct funding or targeted subsidies coming from the central budget or local government funds.

Communal and municipal youth councils cannot have their own budgets as they have no legal entity status. However, changes introduced in 2021 made it a duty of local governments to cover the administrative and office costs of youth councils.  The Youth Fund (Fundusz Młodzieżowy), overseen by the National Freedom Institute was also established. Youth participation in local governments is one of its areas of focus, including specific priority of establishing and maintaining youth councils.

Higher education student union(s)

Structure

The Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland (PSRP - Parlament Studentów Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) is a nationwide representation of all student governments. Its objectives, tasks, structure and electoral procedures are determined in the Act on Higher Education (Prawo o szkolnictwie wyższym i nauce). It is an independent and self-organised body possessing the status of a legal entity.

Composition

The Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland is an umbrella organisation for all student governments operating in Poland. Pursuant to the Act, all students of a higher education institution form its student government. Quoting the exact number of people holding positions in student government bodies across the country is difficult. However, assuming that 4-6 persons per faculty are members of student government authorities, then, depending on the Higher Education Institution (HEI), about 0.3% to 1% of the total student population would be represented. Almost 130 delegates participated in the most recent national assembly of the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland. They represent various HEIs, regardless of their type of ownership and functioning. Every HEI has a voting strength associated with it, depending on the number of students at a given higher education institution: from 1 vote to 50 (afforded to the 3 largest universities in Poland).  Delegates elect their Chairperson and statutory organs - the Executive Council, Student Council and the Review Commission - for a two-year term of office.  Delegate assemblies take place at least once during each two-year term of office of the statutory organs of the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland, whereas Executive Council sessions occur at least once a month. Student Council sessions are scheduled in separate regulations adopted at the beginning of a new term of office. The Executive Council is the Student Parliament’s collegial executive body. The Executive Council is composed of the Chairperson of the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland and of not fewer than 2, but not more than 6, Executive Council Members. Executive Council members are appointed and dismissed by the Chairperson of the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland on the strength of a decree, which is subsequently ratified by the Assembly (or, when outside the period of Assembly deliberations – the decree is ratified by the Student Council). The decision of the Chairperson of the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland specifies the tasks of Executive Council members. The Student Council is composed of the Chairperson of the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland and 12 members appointed by the Assembly. All main organs of the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland are appointed for a term of two years. 

Role and responsibilities

The basic task of the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland consists in representing student communities before state organs. Parliamentary representatives participate in the work of public administration bodies, Parliament and Senate Commissions. The Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland gives opinion on legislation concerning the Polish higher education system and students’ privileges and rights. It is Poland’s only representative body in the European Student Union. The specific objectives of the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland are specified in its Statute as:

“1) representing and promoting students’ educational, social, economic and cultural needs;

2) protecting the rights and interests of all students in the country and Polish students abroad;

3) creating and promoting student attitudes oriented towards active cooperation in the development of civil society;

4) identifying and removing barriers to young people’s academic, cultural and sports development;

5) supporting student governance;

6) improving young people’s knowledge, skills and social competences through the provision of informative, scientific and cultural activities relating to higher education, education, upbringing and physical culture;

7) supporting student mobility”.

The Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland also gives its opinion on draft legislation and selects 4 representatives to sit on the General Council for Science and Higher Education (Rada Główna Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego). The Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland elects an ombudsman for students whose tasks include intervening when students’ rights are endangered, especially in dealings with HEI authorities.

Funding

The Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland receives budgetary funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Targeted subsidies are also available, as well as funds acquired through grant-making. As an institution with the status of a legal entity it is also in a position to accept donations and bequeathed inheritances. The Review Panel appointed by delegates at assemblies is responsible for auditing the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland. The Chairperson and authorities of the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland assume full responsibility resulting from their duties, on general principles applicable to entities being legal persons. The activities of student governments in HEIs and at faculties are funded by the relevant academic authorities.

School student union(s)

The scope of responsibility of Polish school student governments is provided in Article 85 of the Prawo Oświatowe (Prawo oświatowe). The most important responsibilities of Polish school student governments include electing class representatives, electing each school’s student government, as well as ensuring school student participation in the School Council. Moreover, those who are members of school student governments have the right to submit motions and opinions regarding all school matters, - especially those relating to the observance of basic student rights - to school councils, teaching staff and heads of school.  School student governments have the right to influence the organisation of school life in a way that ensures an appropriate balance between learning efforts and opportunities for developing and pursuing pupils'/students' own interests. Moreover, school student governments have the right to conduct cultural, educational, sport and leisure activities as well as information activities such as editing and publishing school newspapers, maintaining webpages, operating the school radio station etc. School students being members of school student governments have the right to choose teachers responsible for their governments and to be acquainted with curricula, their contents, objectives and requirements. The organisation and structure of school student governments depends on the students themselves. The only condition is that regulations governing the principles of electing school student governments and describing their activities should be adopted by the whole population of students in a school through a process of voting by equitable, secret and universal ballot. School student governments are an important element in school governance along with Heads of school and school councils. There is no body in Poland which would play the role of an official representation of school student governments. Issues relating to the observance of school students’ rights are the responsibility of ombudsmen for school students operating under the authority of provincial school superintendents.  
 

Other bodies

The powers of entities representing youth at national level are predominantly limited. Sometimes individual youth organisations speak in the name of their members, although it would be difficult to quote spectacular examples of the effectiveness of such activities. Representatives of authorities organise traditional meetings with young people. Such meetings are held both at national and local levels. Although they prove the authorities’ interest in such issues, rarely do they bring durable results such as legislative initiatives or propositions of specific solutions. Therefore, it is difficult to perceive them as representational bodies. Youth representation at regional level is very diversified. Practically every province can boast of some example of a forum focussed on youth which claims to represent young people. Some of those bodies are elected by young people by direct ballot, others are more in the style of conventions or conferences of local youth organisations.