Bill to Abolish Guardianship in the Polish Parliament Divides Relatives of People with Disabilities

The Polish parliament (Sejm) has begun debating a new bill that aims to abolish the legal guardianship system (ebezwłasnowolnienie) by introducing "supported decision-making mechanisms" for individuals with disabilities. The said regulation aims to create new legal frameworks that will assist individuals in making their own decisions.

However, the bill has caused a significant division among caregivers and families of individuals with disabilities. Some individuals, concerned that the new legislation will fail to protect vulnerable individuals, submitted a petition collecting more than 1700 signatures to halt the debate of the bill. In contrast, another group supports the immediate entry into force of the bill, believing that the law will increase personal freedoms.

Since the legislative work in the parliament is still in its very early stages, the issue is expected to be discussed in detail. It remains uncertain for now how the differing views in society will be reflected in the legislative process and when the current guardianship system will be completely abolished.