WHAT?
In the past months, the European Green Party has already been active in supporting the fight for democracy and civil rights of the civil society in Poland. In particular, we supported their call for democracy and the rule of law by joining the big demonstration organized by KOD (Committee for the Defense of Democracy - Komitet Obrony Demokracji) against the Government in March 2016.
We, the European Greens, have decided to go a step further and to give the chance to our member parties to get familiarized with the situation in Poland. We will do so by inviting a delegation of KOD activists to travel around Europe and visit some of our member parties. They will have the opportunity to receive firsthand information on what is going on in the country and on how KOD is successfully mobilizing the public opinion around these struggles.
KOD is a movement founded by diverse strands of Polish civil society. It was born in November 2015 in reaction to the constitutional crisis. They organized protests in Warsaw and many other Polish cities, gathering over 50.000 citizens in the streets. In their campaigns, KOD fights in defense of democracy, the separation of powers and media freedom. They received support from prominent public figures and intellectuals in Poland and from abroad. Our member party, Zieloni, has been collaborating with the movement since its very first steps and has recently voted in favor of joining the consultative council of parties supporting KOD.
WHEN?
8 - 14 May and 26 May
WHERE?
SUNDAY 8 - Germany
-Potsdam
MONDAY 9 - Germany
- Bremen
- Berlin
TUESDAY 10 - Germany
- Berlin
- Hamburg
WEDNESDAY 11 - Bulgaria
- Sofia
THURSDAY 12 - Austria
- Vienna
FRIDAY 13 - UK
- Sunderland
SATURDAY 14 - Scotland
- Edinburgh
THURSDAY 26 – Moldova
- Chisinau
WHO?
- Jarosław Marciniak (36) is the co-founder of the Committee of Democratic Defense (KOD), a member of the board, and a member of KOD’s policy council. He is currently active in organizing public support for a legislative reform initiative that aims to solve Poland's constitutional crisis. He represents KOD in public debates and is in charge of international cooperation.
- Aleksandra Śniegocka-Goździk (33) also joined KOD in its very beginning. She is responsible for KOD’s media and public relations projects and the head of KOD’s Women’s group. She represents KOD in public debates and is working with KOD's international partners in order to further their common goals.
- Artur Sierawski (23) is the coordinator of KOD’s youth wing and a delegate to KOD’s Board of Directors.He also is a teacher in Warsaw.
