A/HRC/53/26/Add.1 Annex Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants on his visit to Poland I. Introduction 1. Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Felipe González Morales, conducted an official visit to Poland from 12 to 15 July and from 21 to 25 July 2022, at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The main objectives of the visit were to assess existing laws, policies and practices in relation to migration governance in Poland and the situation of the human rights of migrants of all categories, including asylum-seekers and migrants in an irregular situation. 2. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of relevant governmental authorities, the national human rights institution, United Nations agencies and civil society organizations, as well as with migrants and refugees. In Warsaw, he had meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, including representatives of the Polish Border Guard and the Office for Foreigners; the Ministry of Education and Science; the Ministry of Family and Social Policy; and civil society organizations. He also met with legislative representatives from both the Sejm and the Senate of Poland (the lower and higher chambers of Parliament), as well as the national Commissioner for Human Rights. Outside the capital, the Special Rapporteur exchanged views with local and regional authorities, including the Mayor of Biala Podlaska, the Governor of Podlaskie Province, the Governor of Podkarpackie Province and the Deputy Mayor of the city of Przemysl. Unfortunately, he did not have the opportunity to meet with judges from district courts. 3. In addition to the above meetings, the Special Rapporteur conducted visits to facilities for migrants, including the guarded detention facilities for foreigners in Lesznowola, Biala Podlaska and Bialystok, as well as the open reception facility in Biala Podlaska. During those visits, he met and spoke privately with migrant women, men, girls and boys. 4. He also had the opportunity to visit the border crossing point at Polowce, the foreigners registration centre near the crossing point and the adjacent border area. He was shown the fence that has been erected by Poland across its border with Belarus in an area that was previously restricted. In the south of Poland, the Special Rapporteur visited the MedykaSzeginie border crossing post at the border with Ukraine. In Rzeszow and Przemysl, he visited several medical and reception centres for refugees run by private actors, where he met with local and international civil society organizations providing support and assistance to migrants and refugees. 5. The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation for the cooperation extended to him by the authorities in Poland prior to, during and after the visit. He thanks the United Nations institutions and agencies in Poland for their valuable support and assistance. He also extends his gratitude to all migrants who shared their personal testimonies with him during the visit. II. Background information 6. Poland and Belarus share a border that is 418 km long; in addition, their common border is also an external border of the European Union. Until recently, the two countries managed the border in a largely smooth and efficient cooperative manner. Following the Belarusian presidential elections in 2020 and the post-election events in Belarus, the European Union ceased funding, suspended and/or terminated cooperation projects with Belarus and imposed several packages of sanctions in connection with the situation in the country. In early 2021, Belarus received a significantly increased number of visitors with 2 GE.23-06742