Renowned Polish researcher, professor, and Doctor of Science (Politics) Teresa Astramowicz-Leyk, Full Professor and Head of Doctoral Studies at the Institute of Political Sciences of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, has been teaching a course on "International Systems for the Protection of Human Rights" to Master's students majoring in "International Relations" since 2022.
Professor Astramowicz-Leyk's extensive expertise is evident in her research on the history of Polish political thought and human rights, particularly regarding the rights of women, children, national minorities, migrants, and refugees. In 1995, the researcher graduated from the Human Rights School of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Warsaw and was authorised by the Foundation to monitor the observance of human rights by various institutions of the Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship. After completing her studies, she taught courses on human rights, international human rights systems, the European human rights protection system, human rights and governance, human rights in international politics, and other subjects at universities in Olsztyn. Among her five single-authored monographs is "International Systems for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms." This work is divided into two parts: Part I provides an analysis of fundamental international human rights documents, covering the systems established by the UN, the Council of Europe, the CSCE/OSCE, and the EU. Part II includes a selection of the most significant international documents related to these systems.
The researcher utilises her expertise in political and public activities. Prof. Astramowicz-Leyk cooperates with the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR) and the Polish Child Rights Ombudsperson. She participates in monitoring projects organised by HFHR (courts, police, freedom of assembly), and in 2008–2011, she was a local correspondent for an international project conducted by the Foundation: "The Observatory of Media Freedom in Poland." She co-organised a series of conferences with the Polish Ombudsman for Children, the HFHR, the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Human Rights, and other organisations.
Since 2018, Prof. Teresa Astramowicz-Leyk has been elected to the Sejmik of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. For many years, she has supported national minorities in the region, including the Ukrainian minority, which today encompasses not only Ukrainians resettled during Operation Vistula but also contemporary war refugees.
"Under the guidance of Full Professor Astramowicz-Leyk, we learned to perceive international documents not simply as declarations, but as effective means of protecting human rights. Each provision was analysed for its practical application, helping to understand law as a living system,"
It is worth adding that during her four years of teaching at the National University of Ostroh Academy, Full Professor Teresa Astramowicz-Leyk has donated her salary to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She actively develops scientific diplomacy with Ukrainian universities and cooperation between Ukrainian and Polish researchers. Due to the professor's efforts, a dual-degree programme is now available for Bachelor's students majoring in International Relations, operating between Ostroh Academy and the University of Warmia and Mazury. We hope that our cooperation will continue in various directions for many years to come.
