The Absence of Young Carers in the Polish Legislation

Abstract

The article analyses the legal acts dedicated to child and family issues in the context of the issue of young carers which is widely addressed internationally. The questions posed relate primarily to the issue of children’s rights, their protection, the topic of care and parental responsibility, as well as the problems experienced by the family. The article attempts to demonstrate an important research and legislative gap in relation to the situation of children undertaking caring tasks within the family. The analysis reveals the unidirectional nature of guardianship as perceived in Polish legislation. No provision is made for other mechanisms that may take place within the family, making young carers in this situation unnoticeable.