Academic career:
 

1972-1990 – Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan, Faculty of Law

1988-1992 – Catholic University of Lublin, Faculty of Law

Since 1990–2013 - Researcher at the Human Rights Centre in the Institute of State and Law of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Since 1994 – Member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Science (Vatican), nominated by John     Paul II

1995 – Visiting Professor at Georgetown University in Washington

2013 – professor at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań,  Law Faculty, Chair of the Constitutional Law.

She is author of numerous publications and a frequent public speaker,  about human rights, democratic transformation, European integration and Holly See.

H. Suchocka is not only interested in law in books but also in law in action, in the reality test. This, her social sensitivity, as well as interest in and dedication to human rights prompted her to engage in the political life of the country.
 

Political career:
 

1980 – Adviser to  the Solidarity Trade Union (“Solidarność”)

1980-1985 – Member of the Polish Parliament (“Sejm”) on the Democratic Party (“Stronnictwo Demokratyczne”) ballot

1989-2001 – Member of the Polish Parliament (“Sejm”) (on the Solidarity ballot, later on the ballot of the Democratic Union,); member of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs; member of the Parliamentary Committee for Minority Issues; member of the Constitutional Committee of the National Assembly, entrusted with the task of drafting a Constitution for the Republic of Poland

1992-1993 – Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland

1997-2000 – Minister of Justice and Attorney General

2001- 2013 – Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Holy See

H. Suchocka has also been very active in the Council of Europe. Among others:

1991-1992 and 1994-1997 Member of the Parliamentary Delegation of the Republic of Poland for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, vice-chairperson of the Assembly between January and October 1992.

Since 1991 member  of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (“Venice Commission”).

14-16 May 1997 – Rapporteur for the conference "Social Charter for the XXI Century", organised by the Directorate of Human Rights of the Council of Europe

1998 – Member of the Committee of Wise Persons of the Council of Europe

2-4 September 1998 – General Rapporteur for the conference "In our Hands. Effectiveness of Human Rights Protection 50 Years After the Universal Declaration", organised in Strasbourg on the occasion of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 

Honorary degrees and some awards:  
 

1995 – Honoris causa degree of the University of Oklahoma

2005 – Honoris causa degree of the Academy of Theology in Cracow

2011 -  Honoris causa  degree of the Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw,

2012 -  Honoris causa  degree of John Paul II Institute at the Lateran University, Rome

1992 - the Golden Medal of the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe in Lausanne, awarded for action towards the promotion of human rights and European integration; 

1994 – Max Schmidtheimy prize, awarded for political and economic activities for the promotion of a liberal economic World Order

Hanna Suchocka is Member of the InterAction Council and member of the Club of Madrid Council (both of them gathering some of the Former Heads of States and Governments) and Member of the Hall of Fame of the International Women’s Forum

Hanna  Suchocka is also member of the group of five eminent persons to follow up the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the 2001 World Conference against racism (UN).

She was recently appointed by pope Francis to be a member of the council  for “Protection of minors”.