Activities of Non-Governmental Organizations in Polish Courts that Do Not Include Involvement in Proceedings

Abstract

Non-Governmental Organisations in Poland show a wide interest in the justice system. Their actions are not limited to litigation. The paper outlines a typology of activities performed by NGOs in courts or closely related to courts other than taking part in court or executive proceedings. Two main types of actions are studied: monitoring and assistance provided to the clients of the justice system. Polish examples include monitoring performed with the use of observation and other methods of information gathering such as a comprehensive program of citizen court monitoring, in which since 2010 more than 2,000 observers took part voluntarily. In the field of legal aid, NGOs run a few hundred centres where legal advice is provided free of charge.