The mechanism for protecting human rights

The international basis for protecting human rights is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the two 1966 covenants built on it (on civil and political rights; on economic, social and cultural rights) with optional protocols; this set of documents is often called the International Bill of Human Rights. Citizens of states that have joined the optional protocol can complain to the UN Human Rights Committee when their rights are violated. There are also regional systems: in Europe, for example, the European Court of Human Rights works under the 1950 European Convention, and its judgments are binding on member states of the Council of Europe. Inside a state the main links of protection are the courts, which deliver fair justice, the prosecutor’s office, which supervises the execution of laws, and the internal affairs bodies, which prevent offences. In addition, Uzbekistan has institutions such as the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis, the National Human Rights Centre and the commissioner for protecting entrepreneurs’ rights; the Constitutional Court checks whether laws conform to the Constitution, and under current law citizens can also bring a constitutional complaint to it. Most importantly, everyone has the right to defend their rights in court and to appeal in court against unlawful actions of officials.