Fearing law suits, Poland will not sign international ban on discrimination

The government has decided Poland will not sign the European Human Rights Convention protocol banning discrimination, saying it fears it could find itself embroiled in costly legal battles because of certain vague clauses in the document. "This is the result of inter-ministerial talks." said Andrzej Kalinski from the Foreign Ministry government group, which represents Poland at the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. "I don't understand this move. After all, Poland has signed a similar convention in the UN treaty. Additionally, the Constitution states that Poland will obey ratified international law." said Foreign Ministry human rights adviser Marek Nowicki.(Gazeta Wyborcza, Nov.4-5, p.4)