Meeting of the equality research team of the Human Rights Cities Institute

The Human Rights Cities Institute, in cooperation with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, organised an online meeting as part of the project 'Strengthening the systemic approach to social inclusion in local government'. The event was attended by, among others: experts from non-governmental organisations, a representative of the Warsaw School of Economics from the Department of Public Policy, specialists from the City Halls of Warsaw, Gdańsk, Łódź and Bydgoszcz, as well as Anna Korzecka, Deputy Director of the Case Law and Legislation Department of the Personal Data Protection Office.

The aim of the project is to develop a methodology for collecting and assessing data on the recipients of social programmes and services implemented by local governments. Such data and their appropriate analysis are expected to contribute to better inclusion of minority groups, such as people with disabilities, the elderly or LGBT+.

Anna Korzecka, as an expert representing the Personal Data Protection Office, pointed out that it is crucial to highlight the projects for which personal data is actually needed. She emphasised that data revealing sexual identity or disability are subject to a special regime of protection under the GDPR. Therefore, when constructing programmes providing for their processing, one should be extremely careful. These data are processed on the basis of specific laws and the purpose for which they were collected cannot be changed at will. However, this does not exclude the possibility of constructing various types of programmes providing for broadly defined assistance to the data subjects on the basis of their voluntary participation, after informing them about the principles of its granting and provision.

The conclusions of the meeting will form the basis of the next meeting on building effective projects to prevent social exclusion.