Everyone's right to equal treatment and protection from discrimination is a fundamental human right. On March 1, we celebrate the International Day of Non-Discrimination. - 'Today we especially want to emphasise that the activity of the University of Gdańsk is based on the conviction that justice, equality and responsibility for others are the basic values on which the Human Family is based' - says prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of UG.

A draft amendment to the preamble of the UG Statute has been prepared at the University of Gdańsk and will be voted on March 25, 2021. It reads as follows: 'The activity of the University is based on the conviction that justice, equality and responsibility for others are the fundamental values on which the Human Family is based. The University embodies the principle of equal treatment and prevents breaches of this principle on the grounds of gender, race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, creed, belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. All forms of discrimination at the University are unacceptable.'

Let us recall, in February 2021, Rector of UG, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski appointed an ombudsman for equal treatment and counteracting mobbing - dr hab. Joanna Kruczalak-Jankowska, prof. UG from the Faculty of Law and Administration.

- 'At the University of Gdańsk, there has been a systematic increase in activity related to taking measures to prevent discrimination and counteract mobbing,' says dr hab. Joanna Kruczalak-Jankowska, prof. UG, Ombudsman for Equal Treatment and Counteracting Mobbing. - 'Since the beginning of 2021, a new policy on counteracting mobbing and discrimination at UG has been in force based on the UG Rector's Order No. 16/R/21. To implement it, the Office of the Equal Treatment and Anti-Harassment, in which I work together with prof. Magdalena Błażek, a conflict resolution specialist, has been operating since February 1. The proposal to amend the Statute, in which explicit reference to the principles of equal treatment, counteracting discrimination and mobbing emphasises the will of our Academic Community to be among the modern and progressive universities, should also be evaluated very positively. I hope that knowledge of the principles of equal treatment in the context of the generally applicable law as well as internal UG law will systematically increase, and possible infringements of this principle will be immediately eliminated.'

Ombudsman on discrimination

'Discrimination is primarily understood as a situation in which an individual, on the grounds of sex, race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, belief, worldview, disability, age or sexual orientation, is treated less favourably than another person is, has been or would be treated in a comparable situation,' - reads the Ombudsman's website.

According to recent research commissioned by the Ombudsman, the majority of Poles say they are not at risk of discrimination. Moreover, 85% of people who have experienced discrimination in the past year have not reported it to any public institution. Only three in a hundred Poles believe they have experienced discrimination, and two in a hundred know people who have been discriminated well. Every fifth Pole does not see discrimination in the fact that a breastfeeding mother is asked to leave a restaurant, and every third Pole does not see discrimination in the fact that a young father is denied paternity leave.

More data: RPO website