Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms for Human Rights Protection within Constitutional Principles

Yevhen Leheza; Oleksandr Yunin; Mykhailo Burdin; Viktoriya Melnykovych; Vasyl Shevchenko

doi:10.28918/jhi_v24i1_04

Authors

Yevhen Leheza Dnipro Humanitarian University, Ukraine
Oleksandr Yunin Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine
Mykhailo Burdin Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine
Viktoriya Melnykovych Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine.
Vasyl Shevchenko University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28918/jhi_v24i1_04

Abstract

Human rights protection still faces challenges in ensuring the integration of constitutional principles and the effectiveness of institutional implementation during globalization and increasing complexity of modern state governance. This study analyzes the constitutional principles and institutional mechanisms of human rights protection in Ukraine and Indonesia, identifying their characteristics, similarities, and differences, and developing a model for strengthening institutions based on the rule of law that is integrated with international standards and responsive to contemporary challenges. This study uses a normative juridical method with a conceptual and comparative approach to analyze legal doctrine, regulations, and institutional practices in both countries. The research findings indicate that the rule of law is the main foundation of the human rights protection system, while justice, equality, and legality serve as operational principles in maintaining the balance of constitutional values, resolving legal conflicts, and addressing regulatory gaps. Legality is substantively interpreted not only as compliance with norms but also as an indicator of the effectiveness of state administration and a guarantee of legal certainty. This study confirms that the effectiveness of human rights protection requires systemic strengthening of institutions and regulatory architecture based on the rule of law. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen institutions that integrate the principles of justice, equality, and legality in the design of regulations and state oversight mechanisms in order to bridge the normative and empirical gaps in the implementation of human rights protection.

Keywords:

Constitutional principles, Human rights, Institutional strengthening, Legality, Rule of law

References

Alexander, Charlotte S, and Jonathan Todres. “Evaluating the Implementation of Human Rights Law: A Data Analytics Research Agenda.” University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law 43 (2021): 1–78. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3878473.

Anderson, Elizabeth. Freedom and Equality. The Oxford Handbook of Freedom. New York: Oxford University Press, 2018.

Angier, Tom. Natural Law Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108580793.

Blahuta, Roman I, Olha O Barabash, Vasyl P Zakharov, Mariia Yu. Kovalska, and Kateryna R Dobkina. “Enhancing Human Rights Protections in Ukrainian Law Enforcement: National Compliance with EU Standards.” Yuridika 39, no. 1 (2024): 1–30. https://doi.org/10.20473/ydk.v39i1.45461.

Brodowski, Dominik. “Cybercrime, Human Rights and Digital Politics.” In Research Handbook on Human Rights and Digital Technology, 94–109. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2025. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035308514.00013.

Butt, Simon. “Indonesia’s New Criminal Code: Indigenising and Democratising Indonesian Criminal Law?” Griffith Law Review 32, no. 2 (2023): 190–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/10383441.2023.2243772.

Bychkov, Igor. “Constitutional Court of Ukraine in the System of State Authorities of Ukraine.” Legea Şi Viaţa 342, no. 6–7 (2020): 62–67.

Constitution of Ukraine, Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine@article{bychkov2020constitutional, title={Constitutional Court of Ukraine in the system of state authorities of Ukraine}, author={Bychkov, Igor}, journal={Legea {c{s}}i Via{c{t}}a}, volume={342}, number={6-7}, p § (1996).

Crowe, Jonathan. Natural Law and the Nature of Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108653237.

Dąbrowska-Kłosińska, Patrycja. “The Protection of Human Rights in Pandemics—Reflections on the Past, Present, and Future.” German Law Journal 22, no. 6 (2021): 1028–38. https://doi.org/10.1017/glj.2021.59.

Douch, Mustapha, Huw Edwards, Todd Landman, and Sushanta Mallick. “Aid Effectiveness: Human Rights as a Conditionality Measure.” World Development 158 (2022): 105978. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.105978.

Dufeniuk, Oksana. “The ECHR Impact on the Formation of Supranational and National Human Rights Paradigm (Ukrainian Context).” Ideology and Politics Journal. Universal Norms in a Time of Sovereigntism 1, no. 17 (2021): 232–51.

Evanty, Nukila. “Komnas HAM: Discrepancies Between Its Mandate and the Indonesian Constitutional Framework.” In National Human Rights Institutions in Southeast Asia, 141–62. Springer Singapore, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1074-8_7.

Florczak-Wątor, Monika. “Equality Rights.” In Writing Constitutions, 247–84. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39622-9_7.

Hosen, Nadirsyah. “Religion and The Indonesian Constitution: A Recent Debate.” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies 36, no. 3 (2005): 419–40. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022463405000238.

Husen, Laode, Andi Ifal Anwar, Sufirman Rahman, and M Kamal Hidjaz. “Implementation of Legal Guarantees for Human Rights Protection in Indonesia.” Journal of Law and Sustainable Development 11, no. 4 (2023): e624. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v11i4.624.

Isra, Saldi, and Pan Mohamad Faiz. “The Indonesian Constitutional Court: An Overview.” In Courts and Diversity, 55–94. Brill | Nijhoff, 2024. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004691698_004.

Iswahyudi, Eko. “Human Rights and Legal Reforms in Indonesia: Challenges and Progress.” The Journal of Academic Science 2, no. 2 (2025): 734–43. https://doi.org/10.59613/ydvwta66.

Izarova, Iryna, Yurii Prytyka, Oksana Uhrynovska, and Nazar Shestopalov. “Protection of Rights of Internally Displaced Persons amid Military Aggression in Ukraine.” The Age of Human Rights Journal, no. 20 (2023): e7711. https://doi.org/10.17561/tahrj.v20.7711.

Karreth, Johannes, Patricia Lynne Sullivan, and Ghazal Dezfuli. “Explaining How Human Rights Protections Change After Internal Armed Conflicts.” Journal of Global Security Studies 5, no. 2 (2020): 248–64. https://doi.org/10.1093/jogss/ogaa002.

Krupytskyi, Oleksandr, Petro Dikhtiievskyi, Denys Krylov, Mariana Balamush, and Yevhen Leheza. “Standards and Safeguards Stemming from the Right to Respect for Private Life and the Right to a Fair Trial: Applicability with Respect to Administrative-Law Matters of Civil Service.” Revista Eletrônica Direito e Sociedade - REDES 12, no. 3 (2024): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.18316/redes.v12i3.11977.

Krygier, Martin. “The Rule of Law: Pasts, Presents, and Two Possible Futures.” Annual Review of Law and Social Science 12, no. 1 (2016): 199–229. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-102612-134103.

Landman, Todd. “Measuring Modern Slavery: Law, Human Rights, and New Forms of Data.” Human Rights Quarterly 42, no. 2 (2020): 303–31. https://doi.org/10.1353/hrq.2020.0019.

Laws, Sir John. “The Rule of Law: The Presumption of Liberty and Justice.” Judicial Review 22, no. 4 (2017): 365–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/10854681.2017.1407068.

Luhukay, Roni Sulistyanto. “Reforming The Authority Of The National Human Rights Commission From A Legal Perspective.” JURNAL LEGALITAS 18, no. 2 (2025): 154–75. https://doi.org/10.33756/jelta.v18i2.30937.

Maggetti, Martino, and Philipp Trein. “Multilevel Governance and Problem‐solving: Towards a Dynamic Theory of Multilevel Policy‐making?” Public Administration 97, no. 2 (2019): 355–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12573.

Marzuki, Suparman, and Mahrus Ali. “The Settlement of Past Human Rights Violations in Indonesia.” Cogent Social Sciences 9, no. 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2240643.

Maurya, Sooraj Kumar. “Justice and Quality of Life: A Philosophical Perspective.” In Social Indicators Research Series, 1–23. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-10812-8_1.

McCorquodale, Robert, and Justine Nolan. “The Effectiveness of Human Rights Due Diligence for Preventing Business Human Rights Abuses.” Netherlands International Law Review 68, no. 3 (2021): 455–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40802-021-00201-x.

Meagher, Dan. “The Common Law Principle of Legality.” Alternative Law Journal 38, no. 4 (2013): 209–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1037969x1303800402.

Mihr, Anja. “Transitional Justice in Ukraine.” In Polarization, Shifting Borders and Liquid Governance: Studies on Transformation and Development in the OSCE Region, edited by Anja Mihr and Chiara Pierobon, 409–27. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44584-2_25.

Muraviov, Victor, and Nataliia Mushak. “Constitutional Justice in Ukraine.” In Encyclopedia of Contemporary Constitutionalism, 1–5. Springer International Publishing, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31739-7_63-1.

Nampewo, Zahara, Jennifer Heaven Mike, and Jonathan Wolff. “Respecting, Protecting and Fulfilling the Human Right to Health.” International Journal for Equity in Health 21, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-022-01634-3.

Natorski, Michal. “Resilience in EU Crisis Interventions in Ukraine: A Complexity Perspective.” Journal of Contemporary European Studies 31, no. 4 (2022): 1086–1105. https://doi.org/10.1080/14782804.2022.2097205.

Nurhidayatuloh, Nurhidayatuloh, and Febrian Febrian. “ASEAN and European Human Rights Mechanisms, What Should Be Improved?” PADJADJARAN Jurnal Ilmu Hukum (Journal of Law) 06, no. 01 (2019): 151–67. https://doi.org/10.22304/pjih.v6n1.a8.

Pavlo Liutikov, Wiktor Branowicki, Olga Shchypanova, Serhii Yehorov, and Oleksiy Ulyanov. “Human Rights And Freedoms Under The Conditions of Martial State: Legal Regulation, Directions of Improvement.” Jurnal IUS Kajian Hukum Dan Keadilan 11, no. 3 (2023): 623–33. https://doi.org/10.29303/ius.v11i3.501.

Přibáň, Jiří. “Sociology of the Rule of Law: Power, Legality and Legitimacy.” In Research Handbook on the Sociology of Law, 110–23. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789905182.00017.

Pundik, Amit. “Freedom and Generalisation.” Oxford Journal of Legal Studies 37, no. 1 (2017): 189–216. https://doi.org/10.1093/ojls/gqw016.

Salmon, Hendrik, and John Tumba Jacob. “The Role of Law and Human Rights in the Formation of State Institutions: A Comparative Study of Indonesia and Nigeria.” Jurnal Suara Hukum 7, no. 1 (2025): 218–44. https://doi.org/10.26740/jsh.v7n1.p218-244.

Santas, Gerasimos. “Plato on Inequalities, Justice, and Democracy.” In Philosophical Studies Series, 161–77. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96313-6_7.

Santoso, Topo, and Hariman Satria. “Sexual-Violence Offenses in Indonesia: Analysis of the Criminal Policy in the Law Number 12 of 2022.” PADJADJARAN Jurnal Ilmu Hukum (Journal of Law) 10, no. 1 (2023): 59–79. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22304/pjih.v10n1.a4.

Santy, Santy. “Exploring the Intersection of Pancasila and Human Rights in Indonesian Law.” Sinergi International Journal of Education 2, no. 2 (2024): 76–87. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61194/education.v2i2.142.

Saragih, Geofani Milthree, Ade Sathya Sanathana Ishwara, and Rengga Kusuma Putra. “Evaluation of the Implementation of Pancasila Values and Human Rights Enforcement in Indonesian Judicial System Through Constitutional Approach.” Reformasi Hukum 28, no. 3 (2024): 202–17. https://doi.org/10.46257/jrh.v28i3.1082.

Sari, Pika, Totok Yanuarto, Sapti Prihatmini, Dominikus Rato, and Ahmad Basarah. “Protection of Human Rights in Pancasila Democracy.” DiH: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, 2024, 190–201. https://doi.org/10.30996/dih.v20i2.10872.

Shaleh, Chaerul, Fauzan Ali Rasyid, Adang Sonjaya, and Manswab Mahsen Abdulrahman. “Human Rights in the Control of Digital Public Space Freedom: A Collaborative Approach Based on Islamic Law Principles.” Jurnal Hukum Islam 23, no. 1 (2025): 1–36. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.28918/jhi.v23i1.01.

Shkuta, Oleh, Yevhen Leheza, Iryna Telelym, Anatolii Anosienkov, and Oleh Yaroshak. “National Security in the Conditions of the Russia-Ukraine War: Legal Regulation and Islamic Law Perspectives.” Al-Ahkam 34, no. 1 (2024): 99–120. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21580/ahkam.2024.34.1.20413.

Smith, Jackie, and Michael Goodhart. “Human Rights Globalization: How Local and Global Actions Institutionalize Human Rights.” Journal of Human Rights 23, no. 2 (2024): 125–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/14754835.2024.2324202.

Varuhas, Jason N E. “The Principle of Legality.” The Cambridge Law Journal 79, no. 3 (2020): 578–614. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0008197320000598.

Viehoff, Daniel. “Democratic Equality and Political Authority.” Philosophy & Public Affairs 42, no. 4 (2014): 337–75. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/papa.12036.

Volobuieva, Olena, Yevhen Leheza, Vita Pervii, Yevhenii Plokhuta, and Roman Pichko. “Criminal and Administrative Legal Characteristics of Offenses in The Field of Countering Drug Trafficking: Insights from Ukraine.” Yustisia 12, no. 3 (2023): 262–77. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.20961/yustisia.v12i3.79443.

Wolczuk, Kataryna. “State Building and European Integration in Ukraine.” Eurasian Geography and Economics 60, no. 6 (2019): 736–54. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/15387216.2019.1655463.

Zarkasi, A, Firmansyah Putra, Dinda syufradian Putra, and others. “Indonesia’s 2024 Election: Constitutional Court Perspectives on Electoral Violations.” Sriwijaya Law Review, 2025, 372–98. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.28946/slrev.v9i2.4584.