Poland is under intense criticism for alleged inhumane treatment of migrants trying to cross its border with Belarus. Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report detailing how Polish border guards have reportedly forced migrants back into Belarus, sometimes violently, while denying them access to asylum procedures. These actions, HRW claims, violate international and European human rights laws.
The report highlights accounts of abuse and harsh conditions faced by migrants. Testimonies from asylum seekers reveal that they were subjected to physical violence, confiscation of belongings, and forced expulsions. In some cases, migrants were coerced into signing documents they did not understand, which resulted in their removal to Belarus.
HRW has called on Poland to end these pushbacks and investigate allegations of abuse. The organization emphasizes Poland’s legal obligations under frameworks such as the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which guarantees the right to asylum, and the 1951 Refugee Convention, which prohibits refoulement—the forced return of individuals to places where they face danger.
The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum also obliges member states to ensure proper living conditions and procedural guarantees for asylum seekers, including legal assistance. However, HRW claims Poland’s actions disregard these commitments, exposing migrants to grave risks and depriving them of basic rights.
Since 2021, the Poland-Belarus border has become a hotspot for migrant crossings. In response, Poland has implemented stricter security measures, including the Shield East program aimed at protecting NATO’s eastern flank. The government has fortified the border, citing incidents like the stabbing of a border official by a migrant, which led to the passage of a law allowing the use of firearms against migrants.
Poland’s border enforcement practices have drawn criticism from the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, who condemned them as violations of the European Convention on Human Rights. As the migration crisis continues, Poland faces growing calls to align its policies with human rights standards and address the needs of vulnerable migrants.