THE ROLE OF STATES IN THE SUPERVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Abstract

In addition to norms, institutes, and mechanisms for their enactment, publication, and interpretation, each legal system also has elements that provide insight into how the adopted rules are implemented and what is undertaken when it is determined that there is a discrepancy between what is prescribed and what happens in reality. This also applies when it comes to human rights law - that part of international and national law that regulates human rights. After the introductory part, the paper deals with fundamental problems concerning the concept and types of supervision over the observance of human rights, and then the concept and types of internal supervision of states over the observance of human rights. After that transboundary supervision of states over respect for human rights (the concept of cross-border supervision by states, diplomatic protection, etc.) and supervision over respect for the rights of foreign citizens - groups and individuals are discussed. In the concluding remarks, the author points out that not only do states themselves or on the initiative of other subjects exercise control over the state of human rights, provide protection of specific human rights and their holders, etc. but they also monitor the state of human rights in other countries and, when necessary, take steps within the limits of international law. The author underlines that efforts to ensure the free, complete, and safe enjoyment of human rights must not turn into some form of abuse. For better understanding, he gives a few interesting examples from contemporary practice.