Poland – Impact assessments 2nd NAP

11. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Maps of risks and threats to human rights in business context and good practice catalogues

[page 29]

“The Embassies of the Republic of Poland will continuously update the Maps of risks and threats to human rights in business in the host countries and good practice catalogues. Once a year, by order of the Department of United Nations and Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all embassies will send the updated Maps and Catalogues both to the Headquarters and to other Polish missions in their host countries (Consulates General and Polish Institutes). The aforesaid documents will be placed on the internal website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Diplopedia section, in the State Websites tab, as information material available to the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as to people going on missions. At embassies, persons shall be appointed whose scope of duties includes monitoring of human rights issues in business context and familiarising new staff in the mission with relevant documents relating to the UN Guiding Principles. Pre-departure training on business and human rights based on the UN Guiding Principles will continue for heads of mission and all others going to work in foreign missions.”

11. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[page 30-31]

Authorisation to export arms and military equipment

“The Security Policy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take into account the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the course of assessment procedure regarding applications for granting permission to export arms and military equipment, in accordance with Articles 12 and 12 a. of the Act of 29 November 2000 on Foreign Trade in Goods, Technologies and Services of Strategic Significance for State Security and for Maintaining International Peace and Security and Article 88 of the Act of 13 June 2019 on Conditions of Business Activity related to the Production of and Trade in Explosives, Weapons and Ammunition, as well as Products and Technologies to be used for Military or Police Purposes. A criterion taken into account by the Department when assessing applications for the granting of export licences is, inter alia, a risk assessment as to whether the arms to be exported could be used for activities in violation of international humanitarian law or whether the granting of the licence would have a negative impact on respect for human rights.”

Appendix 2 (information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Recommendations

[page 46]

“In their activities supporting Polish entrepreneurs, public procurement and development aid projects implementation, Polish foreign missions are guided by the following principles requiring them to:”

(…) “- acquire and expand knowledge of the host country – its history, social and economic problems, culture and customs in the context of developing business contacts; develop and continuously update risk and threat maps as regards human rights in the host country taking into account periodic reports prepared within the framework of the UN and the EU;”