Prof. PAWEŁ WILIŃSKI

Professor of law, chief of the Department of Criminal Procedure at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland; Judge of the Supreme Court of Poland. Ad-hoc Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg (2010-2012, 2015-2016). Expert in criminal procedure, international criminal law, victims and witnesses’ protection system, protection of minors in criminal law, teaching also human rights law, constitutional aspects of criminal law. Expert advisor to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors participating i.a. in PCPM expert panels: “The Communication Of Information In Canonical Investigations, Penal Trials, And Disciplinary Processes” in 2016 and “Promoting and Protecting the Dignity of Persons in Allegations of Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Adults: Balancing Transparency, Confidentiality and Accountability” in 2019. Author of over 200 publications on criminal procedure, criminal law, international criminal law and procedure, i.a. Improving Protection of Victims’ Rights: Access to Legal Aid, 2015, Criminal procedure from Constitutional Perspective, 2011; Fair trial standard in polish and international jurisprudence, 2009; Principles of International Criminal Law, 2008; International Criminal Court, 2004.

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Session: “Transparency- Accountability  – Responsibility”

Among many different provisions – providing victims of sexual abuse with truth and justice – most important are those creating rights, support and protection minimum standard in law. Basic norms of the Church law, developed in recent years, indicates that the victims are those who need to be taken care of and provided with psychological and spiritual assistance.

Finally, the question arises To what extent the Church should introduce its own effective system of procedural protection of abused minors. It seems necessary to discuss and introduce effective minimum guarantees to protect their interests during and in connection with the ongoing proceedings, including, inter alia, the right to legal representation, to information, to redress the damage in a way that will ensure real protection of children aiming to prevent their wounds from getting worse and prompting them to seek help outside the Church