Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki referred to the death of eight-year-old Kamil from Częstochowa, who had been brutally tormented by his stepfather. The Prime Minister informed that he had requested the Minister of Justice to aggravate the penalties for child abuse.

Today, we are all bursting with anger, frustration and great sadness due to this tragic death and suffering of little Kamilek from Częstochowa. It is necessary to amend the system and improve the procedures of all institutions so as to prevent the occurrence of such tragic situations – said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

The Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg pointed out that specific solutions were needed to increase the protection of minors. She also pointed to the amendments that had already been implemented.

We amended the Act on family support and the foster care system, which introduces amendments regarding the safety of minors. The family is the heart of our government, we do not and will not consent to harming helpless children. In connection with the tragedies that occurred, specific solutions should be introduced – said Minister Marlena Maląg.

The Ministry of Family and Social Policy has also worked out amendments to the Act on counteracting family violence, which are coming into force on 22 June.

The amendment is revolutionary, we have introduced many important regulations that are to affect not only those who suffer from violence, but also those who use it. The adoption of new regulations was necessary and indispensable – said Deputy Minister Anna Schmidt.

Anti-violence act – the most important amendments

• broader group of persons to be affected by the provisions of the Act,
• children who witness domestic violence will be treated as victims of domestic violence,
• special psychological and therapeutic programmes for those who use violence,
• sanctions against a person who uses domestic violence and persistently fails to take part in the programmes;
• new concepts in the Act: economic violence and cyberbullying,
• person using violence who is in possession of a firearm will be deprived of it should the „Blue Card” be initiated.

Amendment to the Act on foster care

• higher remuneration for foster families,
• prohibition of creating new children’s homes,
• central register of foster care that will facilitate the work of family courts as well as organisers of family foster care,
• leave for adoptive parents,
• assistance to adult foster care wards,
• possibility of a one-time return of a person who has already left foster care after reaching the age of majority to the previous foster family,
• amendment also regulated the rules of special supervision over rooms in care and educational institutions in the form of surveillance.