Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Polish MEP Marek Plura highlighted what he calls “violations of human rights” suffered by handicapped protesters who are currently staging a peaceful protest in part of the Polish Parliament in Warsaw.
He said that in the 40 days the demonstrators have been inside the Parliament, they have been denied a range of basic rights, such as access to sanitary facilities and water.
Plura, who himself is disabled, told reporters, “What is happening in Poland at present is tragic and that is why I am making this direct appeal today to my fellow MEPs.”
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He said he wants deputies to sign a letter of complaint to be sent to the Polish lower chamber of Parliament in Warsaw.
Plura, an EPP group member and former Polish MP, told a news conference that the protest of persons with disabilities, their parents and carers in the Polish Parliament started on 18 April.
Plura, who sits on the employment and social affairs committee, said, “It is a peaceful protest of 10 people, among whom are children. The aim of the protest is to increase social benefits for adults, who, due to their disability are fully dependent, in order to cover the minimum cost of their existence and the minimum costs resulting from their disability.
“The government has met the less expensive part of the demands. Now, for several days, the negotiations have been suspended, as the government says it is not ready to cover more costly demand for an extra €117 per month for each fully dependent person.”
The MEP, who is wheelchair bound, said the protesters were fearful of leaving the Parliament’s building in case they are not allowed back in to continue their protest.
He said, “This is a peaceful protest but the treatment being metered out to these people is a disgrace. They are being denied even the most basic human rights such as access to sanitary facilities and water. It is tragic.”
He added, “This is a matter for the Polish government and we are not asking for the EU to intervene as such. But what I am asking for today is for MEPs to co-sign a letter to the Polish
Parliament’s authorities to ensure that the dignity and human rights of these protestors does not continue to be disregarded as is currently the case. What the authorities are doing is clearly meant to try and break them mentally and physically.”
The campaign is backed by the European Disability Forum.
Catherine Naughton, from the Forum, told the news conference that it shared “deep solidarity” with the protesters who, she said, were simply trying to improve their conditions.
She believes the Polish authorities could be in contravention of human rights conventions.