Institutional protection of human rights

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Žmonių teisės; Ombudsmenas; Lygių galimybių ombudsmenas; Žurnalistų etika; Human rights; Ombudsman; Equal opportunities Ombudsman; Journalist ethics.

ENAlthough human rights are widely regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as national laws and international treaties, the mechanism of their practical implementation and the possibility to use and protect the rights and freedoms in reality is of a great importance. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania has stated that the Constitution obligates the state to respect human rights and freedoms and to guarantee their protection from any unlawful attempt or restriction by legal, material or organizational means. Thus protection of human rights is reflected in the existing system by the state provided guarantees. The constitutional right to appeal to court if an individual’s rights and freedoms have been violated is one of the most important means in protecting human rights. According to the Constitutional Court, the guarantee to protect persons’ rights and freedoms is an essential element of the constitutional institute of persons’ rights and freedoms. The court is the most important institution protecting human rights in a democratic state. Following Article 1 of the Law on Courts of the Republic of Lithuania, the court decisions, judgements and rulings shall, after having taken effect, be binding upon all state power and government institutions, enterprises, organizations and natural persons and must be executed over the entire territory of the Republic of Lithuania. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania could be qualified as an institution protecting human rights. Different aspects of human rights are revealed in the rulings of the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court has interpreted such important human rights as the right to ownership, freedom to self-expression, the right to private life, the right to occupation, etc. People cannot address the Constitutional Court directly. [Extract, p. 27]