Posted by Chester Morton / Friday 15 April 2016 / No comments
The methods used to safeguard the rights and liberties of citizens
HOW TO
SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES OF CITIZENS
Constitutional
Safeguards
One way to
safeguard the rights and liberties of the citizen is to entrench the relevant
clauses in the constitution. An entrenched clause is difficult to change so the
right of the citizen is constantly protected.
Free Press
A free and
independent press can also help to safeguard the rights of citizens in a state.
This happens because the newspapers serve as a mouth piece to voice out any
abuses of the rights of citizens. With their existence also, officials fear
being exposed if they took certain actions. Thus the rights of the citizen are
protected.
An Ombudsman
The duty of
this outfit is to investigate abuses of human rights and liberties of citizens
by appointees of the government and to find a means of resolving them. The
office of the Ombudsman is sometimes designated the Parliamentary Commissioner
or Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice. Their main duty is
to investigate abuses of human rights and liberties to be able it to offer
redress.
An
Independent Judiciary
There must
exist, an independent judiciary to adjudicate disputes that may arise among
citizens and between citizens and their governments or government officials.
The disputes must be settled by an impartial court. Such impartiality of the
judiciary serves to protect the liberties of the citizens.
An efficient
law Enforcement agency
Another way
of protecting the rights of citizens is to ensure the existence of and
efficient police organization which can protect the rights of the citizens and
make sure those rights are enjoyed to the full by the citizens. An efficient
Police Force ensures the maintenance of law and order and once there is law and
order, it is easy to for every citizen to enjoy his or her rights.
Doctrine of
Checks and Balances
Under this
doctrine the three arms of government, the legislature, executive and the judiciary
check each other in the performance of their duties. These checks and balances
inure to the benefit of citizens because it serves as a means by which the
rights of the individual are protected.
SAMPLE
QUESTION(S)
1. a. Who is
a citizen of a country?
b. Highlight five ways in which a citizen’s
rights can be protected in a democracy.
2. Highlight
six safeguards for ensuring the liberty of an individual in a modern state.
