March 31, 2015 - Mr. Igor N. Barilik, lecturer in criminal law and criminology at Faculty of Law of the Charles University in Prague, visited the Institute for Human Rights of CUPL and delivered an excellent speech to the first-year master's students. Several Ph.D students also attended the lecture.

The speech addressed the development of basic criminal procedural rights in Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic. Mr.Barilik opened the speech with an insight inot the history of the Austrian Empire and gave a brief introduction to the basic principles of the criminal procedural law in the Austrian Empire. After the downfall of the empire, Czechoslovakia, and later Czech Republic, was established. Mr.Barilik specified the development of basic principles in the criminal procedural law of the Czech Republic. 

After that, Mr.Barilik also mentioned the "1993 Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms" and the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic. The Charter establishes several basic principles and fundamental rights for the citizens. The Constitutional Court holds a separate and independent position in the court system, which plays a vital role in protecting of citizens' human rights. 

At last, Mr.Barilik intoduced a legal case of “pre-trail detention” for discussion. Students showed great interest in the discussion and had a nice interaction with Mr.Barilik.

The criminal procedure law in both the Czech Republic and the PRC has been greatly influenced by the Soviet Union during the1950s. Since the realization of criminal justice is an important part of human rights, both the Czech Republic and the PRC have a long way to go.

Written by He Fei