Our Mission

Liga Lidskych Prav is a non-governmental organisation based in the Czech Republic, which works towards the protection of human rights by working within the scope of the rights guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, and other binding international conventions. Liga also promotes human rights with the aid of research and education in order to improve the quality of life for all, and by undertaking strategic cases in Court, producing innovative arguments and landmark solutions. By 2010, we aim to have enhanced the rights of children within the Czech Republic, as well as the rights of victims within the Criminal Justice system. We also aim to significantly improved human rights within the health service.

Our ultimate vision is to develop a society in which human rights are respected in daily life, and where citizens are able to defend and protect themselves easily and efficiently, and without hindrance, from encroachments and violations of their fundamental rights.

Liga as an ‘incubator’

The evolvement of Liga’s structure as an organisation, from its initial roots to the present day, have been primarily built around individuals who have take the opportunity to develop activities imbedded in social awareness and their recognition of the failings of the law in protecting the rights of people in many of these social contexts. Hence Liga acts as an ‘incubator’, from which pioneering projects initiated by lawyers, and other professionals involved in human rights protection, arise. One such project, instigated by Liga, concerned the problem of domestic violence, and focused on helping the victims of such abuse. Liga’s dynamic work in this area led to the creation of a new, independent organisation, Persefona, in 2007. Persefona now provides a professional and comprehensive service exclusively for victims of domestic violence in the Czech Republic.

At Liga, we rely on professionalism and on an innovative approach to solving problems, in the sphere of all our activities. We do not deal with hypothetical scenarios, but focus on issues which have not yet been satisfactorily addressed, including issues which have long been subject to taboo. Occasionally, the nature of our work brings us into direct conflict with the public authorities or their representatives, who are unable or unwilling to recognise and address the problems rising in their departments. In these situations, we seek to aim to resolve disputes through communication and open dialogue, and by discussing with the authorities, about potential solutions to the relevant problems. However, if this approach proves unsuccessful, or successful dialogue is not followed up by action on the part of the relevant authorities, we then resort to legal action, as well as promoting our cause in the media, in order to stop the violation of human rights.

Other forms of activity

Liga has been able to achieve proficient solutions for specific problems by using a systematic and consistent procedure when dealing with issues, including first-class analyses of situations, as well as the adoption of good practices and suggested legal solutions from case examples abroad. Hence our findings and analysis are often the results of field research, which in turn may be lead to; the launch of projects which aim to help people deprived of their basis rights, legislative initiatives, and even educational activities. In line with our analytical research, we also organise international conferences and regional seminars concerning our work.

Liga also organises round table discussions with representatives and professionals from the health care sector, as well as school teachers and directors, public and local administrators, and other NGOs. On top of this, our experts represent Liga at international conferences abroad. At present, we also run a series of Human Rights Clinics in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, Palacký University, Olomouc. The Human Rights clinics have proved immensely popular, with the participating law students demonstrating considerable enthusiasm for human rights work.

We cannot settle everything on our own

Since one, non-profit organisation cannot efficiently deal with every problem and bring to justice every human rights violation, Liga also supports other organisations in their activities, as well as the establishment of new organisations, dealing with human rights issues. One such organisation which we support is the Public Interest Lawyers Association (PILA). In cooperation with PILA, we are part of the project VIA IURIS, which focuses on producing literature and publications on human rights issues. In keeping up with the approach of top, foreign universities, legal education in the Czech Republic should develop the students’ practical legal skills further, including effective legal methods to protect public interests, including human rights, much more than is presently offered. Hence, PILA and Liga are also working together to improve teaching at university law faculties throughout the country.

In addition, we cooperate with PILA in promoting pro bono; whereby we encourage large and international law firms to volunteer to offer free legal services to underprivileged clients. We attach the same importance to activities which lead to ensuring a system of free legal aid guaranteed by the State. In reality, access to justice is hampered, and therefore, denied to the poor and socially outcast members of society. Unfortunately, the Czech Republic, unlike most European Union Member states, has no effective system of legal aid for the country’s more disadvantaged citizens.