The principle of the presumption of innocence

• Author: Iris Berisha
• Pages: 249-259

European Journal of Economics, Law and Social Sciences

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

Vol. 4 No. 2

June, 2020

ISSN 2519-1284

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

249

The principle of the presumption of innocence

Iris Berisha

Abstract

Procedural principles are the basic rules that determine the character and content of the

manner of criminal proceedings. The character and the content of the proceedings must

be in accordance with these principles. The basic principles provided for in national and

international legislation serve as the basis and reference point for all institutes and procedural

provisionsRecognizingandrespecting themisa basicconditionfor furtherdemocratization

of the activity of the judiciary. The principle of the Presumption of Innocence is one of the

principles that has aroused a lot of interest and debate.

Almost all international conventions on human rights, all constitutions of the democratic

countries of the world, as well as the criminal legislation of the modern world, recognize

and respect it as a fundamental and vital principle for a fair trial, the principle of the

presumption of innocence. So what is the principle of the presumption of innocence?

Everyoneis presumedinnocent untilconvicted bya competent courtIn otherwords the

individualisconsideredinnocentuntilthe CourtofAppealsrulesonanal decisionevenif

heshehasbeen foundguilty bythe CourtofFirst InstanceInmy opinionthis isoneof the

points where the humanism of the law stands out the most. The law is humane, it has been

createdand it continues to be created sothat it can serve the people Itwas the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights which decades ago sanctioned this principle specically in

Article thereofNecessarilyourcountry wasobligedto implementit inthe Constitution

criminalandproceduralcriminallegislationYetthequestionremainsisthatenoughInthis

sense main objective of this article is the analysis of the principle of presumption of innocence.

Keywords: AnalysisprincipleofpresumptionofinnocenceUniversalDeclarationofHuman

Rights

Introduction

Theprinciple of thepresumption of innocencewasrst recognizedin France asa

principle of democratic character directed against arbitrariness and guaranteeing

the real protection of the defendant from unfounded allegations in evidence and

lawandisfoundsanctionedinlegalinstrumentsofdemocraticstatesbutwasrst

proclaimed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in  at

thebeginningoftheFrenchRevolutionThisprincipleisinfactalegalinstrumentin

favorofthe accusedcreated bythecardinalandFrench juristJean Lemoineinthe

late eighteenth century, based on the conclusion that most people are not criminals.

Its implementation is a legal right of the accused in the criminal process. Its essence

lies in the fact that the burden of proof belongs to the prosecuting authorities, which

mustgatherand present sucient and convincing evidence to prove that the fact

istrue andthat the accusedis guiltybeyond any reasonabledoubt The purpose of

thepresumptionofinnocence isto protectones rightsto securethe constitutionalright of

1 