- Freedom of opinion and thought, - Freedom of expression, - Freedom of assembly, - Freedom of association, - Freedom to join any political organization or trade union of their choice, - Freedom of trade and industry, - Freedom of intellectual, artistic and scientific creation. This right may be restricted only by law.” Paragraph 2: Equality before the law The Constitution reaffirms the principle of equality before the law and the various laws relating to the judicial system uphold this as an essential base for the functioning of the system. The law on legal assistance embodies this right. The State covers the legal fees and expenses of poor litigants. Paragraph 3: Right to life and to physical and moral integrity The Constitution classifies torture and slavery as crimes against humanity. It proscribes all forms of moral or physical violence. The Government has established a national mechanism for the prevention of torture. Judgments delivered by the criminal courts can be appealed and a de facto moratorium on the death penalty is being observed for decades now. Consequently, the law criminalizing torture, the Criminal Code and the Act on the status of the national police, prohibit any violation of the physical or moral integrity of the human person. The Code of Criminal Procedure has made it possible to protect the rights of persons in police custody more effectively through access, immediately upon arrest, to counsel and family, and limits on the custody period, which may only be extended by the public prosecutor. Paragraph 4: Right to a fair trial The Code of Criminal Procedure stipulates: “criminal proceedings shall be fair, adversarial, shall ensure balance of rights between parties and guarantee separation between prosecuting authorities and judicial authorities”. Individuals on trial for similar offences are judged by the same standards. The judicial authority guarantees the rights of victims and ensures their information throughout the criminal proceedings. 34