Children's Rights Ombudsman Report 2024: Record Interventions and Alarming Youth Mental Health Crisis
In 2024, the Polish Commissioner for Children's Rights recorded an unprecedented increase in citizen reports and interventions to protect children's rights. The Children's Helpline conducted 91% more life-saving actions, indicating a rapidly deteriorating mental health situation among children and adolescents. The Commissioner is actively fighting for legal changes to tangibly improve the situation for children in schools, the healthcare system, and online.
Key points
Alarming rise in life-saving interventions: The Children's Helpline recorded a 91% increase in interventions saving children's lives and health, pointing to a deepening mental health crisis among young Poles.
Record office activity: The number of cases submitted to the Commissioner increased by nearly 50% compared to 2023. The number of official requests to authorities for legal changes also grew significantly (by 181%), covering areas like health, education, and online safety.
A greater voice for youth: For the first time in history, a Council of Children and Youth was established at the Commissioner's office to give young people a real influence on decisions concerning their rights. Youth co-organized the Congress of Children and Youth and proposed legal changes regarding mental health.
Push for systemic changes for children: The Commissioner is demanding, among other things, reimbursement for drugs for rare diseases (e.g., achondroplasia), better support for children with ADHD in schools, stricter regulations on harmful online content (so-called 'pathocontent'), and urgent reform of the foster care system.
Protecting children from violence: The tragic death of Kamilek from Częstochowa prompted the Commissioner to demand systemic changes in child protection, including a re-evaluation of the functioning of courts and other institutions.
Status:
Adopted
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