The humanitarian principle as a foundation of the constitutional order
The humanitarian principle means that the human being, with life, freedom, honour and dignity, is the highest value, and it requires that all citizens have equal rights and equal duties on a common basis. It also appears in practice: for example, the death penalty was abolished by presidential decree from 1 January 2008, and the 2023 Constitution states directly that the death penalty is prohibited. Constitutional rights are usually divided into three groups: personal (life, liberty, personal inviolability, protection of honour and reputation), political (to elect and be elected, to take part in running the state, to join parties and public associations, to appeal to state bodies) and economic, social and cultural (work, property, education, healthcare). Political rights are tied to citizenship; appeals come in three forms: a proposal (a suggestion for change or improvement), an application (asking for help in exercising one’s right) and a complaint (reporting that a right has been violated), and state bodies must consider them and reply. Alongside rights there are duties: to obey the Constitution and laws, to respect the rights, honour and dignity of others, to protect historical and cultural heritage, to treat nature with care, to pay taxes and fees, and to defend the Homeland. Freedom must be used without harming the lawful interests of others, the state and society, so rights can be restricted only on the basis of law.
“Right – duty” pairs: for each right (education, ownership of property, voting) find at least one matching duty or responsibility and write it in a table; groups compare tables.