RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Gender equality and women's rights are the subjects of ongoing discussions in societies all over the world. Women, more often than men, are likely to become victims of gender-based violence. The studies carried out in Europe show that only the every second woman is aware of gender-based legal regulations in her country, 19% cannot recognise any support service, and what is particularly important for the health care system 87% would like their medical doctor to ask patients with physical injuries about potential violence experienced. AIM: The Paper aims at presenting the women's status in the Polish society in light of current legal regulations implemented to guarantee equal treatment of both genders in every walk of life, which then reflects in the society's physical and emotional health condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Authors analysed the current legal regulations in Poland with the aim to draw a preliminary evaluation of the women's status in Poland as far as the realisation of the Third Millennium Development Goal within the UN Millennium Project Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women is concerned. RESULTS: The basic tool to combat violence in Poland is so-called the Blue Cards system. Till 2015 the Polish current law protected the women's rights to a great extent. However, many issues were not covered by legal regulations, and in a great number of cases, women's rights were practically not respected. Consequently, despite resolutions and international conventions ratified by Poland in order to legally protect women's rights, they still remain a partially solved issue.