Guarantees of human rights and freedoms
A guarantee is a means ensuring that a right is realised in practice. The main guarantee is court protection: everyone may defend their rights and freedoms through the court and may complain to a court about unlawful acts of state bodies and officials. There is a right to qualified legal assistance; in a criminal case a person uses the help of a defence lawyer (advocate). The court is independent, a judge is subject only to the law and nobody may interfere in a judge’s work. The Human Rights Commissioner (ombudsman, since 1995) at the Oliy Majlis monitors observance of rights by state bodies, examines complaints and gives recommendations; it is not a court. The National Human Rights Centre (1996) works on legal education and monitoring. Today a citizen who believes that a law applied to him or her in court violates constitutional rights may complain to the Constitutional Court (the procedure is set by law); the prosecutor’s office, the mahalla and public organisations also help. The rights of minors, persons unable to work and lonely elderly people are under state protection.
“Where do I turn?”: the teacher reads four situations (the khokimiyat did not respond; a person was detained unlawfully; an employer did not pay wages; a neighbour violated home inviolability). Groups choose the right body.