Sapient rights in Packilvania

Sapient rights in Packilvania are virtually non-existent except in the area of economic opportunities. The Freedom in the World index ranks Packilvania as "Not Free". Gender minorities and to a lesser extent women, face challenges not experienced by men. Political freedom is totally non-extent. Freedom of information, association, protest, speech are non-existent. The government heavily surveils the population.

Political rights

Selection and appointment of political officials

There are no elections of any kind at national level in Packilvania. The Sultan of Packilvania is the absolute monarch and he accedes by inheritance. All members of the Parliament of Packilvania and the Council of Ministers of Packilvania including the Prime Minister of Packilvania are selected by and serve at the pleasure of the Sultan. Officials of lower parts of the government are appointed without oversight of independent bodies. Although the government has attempted to create competitive selection processes for senior officials, they ultimately remain at the discretion of the most powerful political officials. Political parties are banned. Although corruption exists and state-owned corporations exert considerable political clout, extra-political entities are not widely known to influence Packilvanian domestic and foreign policy. Nevertheless, the political interests of the Bedonite dynasty and their allies in the defunct Carriers of Mercy (and now Association of the Friends and Veterans of the Carriers of Mercy) are inextricably linked with the policies and laws of the nation. Laws and policies are subjected to the frivolity and caprice of the head of state. The Packilvanian Armed Forces and the Intelligence agencies of Packilvania are fully under the control of the civilian government however their policy advice is not subject to external scrutiny making them vastly more powerful than they would be in more democratic nations.

Corruption

Corruption in Packilvania is pervasive although noticeable improvements are being made. The Imperial Revenue Services are largely independent from political interference and have proven instrumental in tracking down tax evasion and money laundering. The Packilvanian Central Bank and the Financial Regulatory Board have de facto independence to supervise the financial system and instances of financial institutions being used by private actors and politicians and government officials for money laundering are dealt with effectively. The Imperial Procuratorate has investigated and successfully prosecuted politicians and government officials who abuse their power, accept bribes, make unlawful appointments, have conflicts of interest, and exploit government tenders. An anti-corruption reporting tool exists which nominally protects whistleblowers, however is in unclear and difficult to verify whether the complaints are responded to effectively or the extent to which the surveillance and censorship infrastructure can be used to identify and persecute whistleblowers.

Public consultation

Public consultation for legislative proposals within the Legislative process of Packilvania exists. The Parliament has invited and reviewed written submissions from the public, but it rarely holds open forums with citizens. Open forums have been held by city councils with members of the public over public projects and regulations however it is unclear to what extent the participation is open given the restrictions of freedom of speech and the lack of transparency as to whether these consultations are free and fair. Although laws and other government documentation is freely and easily accessible from the internet and from public bodies, the government has discretion to conceal material documents that affect its interests. Members of the Consultative Assembly cannot ask questions of the government and the Legislative Council can only question government ministers behind closed doors. Some larger cities allow attendance of the public in legislative deliberations and local councils can openly question executive and bureaucratic officials. Generally government contracts are appointed publicly and multiple bodies are required to approve such contracts, public scrutiny of contracts can be curtailed by senior levels of government arbitrarily. Asset declarations of the most powerful government officials and wealthy people are not available to the public.

Minority rights

There exists a day that celebrates ethnic minorities called Minorities Celebration Day. The government is currently not imposing any known ethnic cleansing and demographic control measures aimed at minority groups. Minority groups are represented in political institutions however in reality it is unlikely that minority groups would exert any meaningful influence over the political systems.

Civil Liberties

Expression and belief

The media is not independent. It is directly censored by the Packilvanian Media and Broadcasting Board. news agencies typically practice self-censorship and the government only allows reporting of corruption to the extent it serves its interests. Journalists are subjected to pressure and surveillance to identify their sources. Blasphemy and state security protection laws exist, dishonouring the royal family is illegal and the punishment is vigorously enforced. New outlets rely on government funding or are owned by corporations which exert editorial influence. Media is used to proliferate propaganda and indoctrinate or deceive the public. Women journalists face challenges not experienced by their main counterparts. Although journalists are protected from violence and arrest this is usually because their are state employed propagandists. Works of art are controlled for their subject matter and designs.

Religious practice and belief

The government determines whether something is considered a religion. Minority religions are not allowed to be practiced outside of designated areas. Minority religions cannot proselytize to a Paxist. Apostasy from Paxism is illegal. Publications and broadcasters aimed at minority religions are restricted. Although the Magisterium of Paxism is highly influential and powerful, its strong ties to the government mean that the government can influence its activities for political purposes. The government is required to rule in a manner that is in accordance with the Writings of Paxism. The construction of religious buildings without government approval is forbidden. A religious police exists to enforce religious mores. Practices and activities which are construed as witchcraft and sorcery are banned.

Academic freedom

Teachers and professors at educational institutions such as universities in Packilvania must comply with the government's laws and regulation. The government controls the curriculum and imposes indoctrination in the education system. Student associations that get too big or explore political issues opposed to state interests are shut down and disbanded. Allocation of funding is designed to pursue government interests.

Surveillance

Packilvania has the biggest surveillance system in the world by scope and depth. Software and applications are required to have backdoors that allow the the government to access and manipulate them. The government has cameras that collect the personal data of citizens. Government buildings are bugged with audio devices to hear people. Search results for banned phrases in search engines are blocked. IP addresses can be banned by the government. The government can intercept transmissions and postage.

Public gatherings

There is no freedom of assembly. Large public gatherings require state permission. Picketing, protests and demonstrations are banned altogether and are met with violent force except if their purpose is to support government desires. People who apply for demonstrations that oppose the government are arrested. Organisation online is forbidden and people can be tracked-down and arrested. Town-hall style meetings face less restrictions if they are associated with the state religion or a cause supported by the government or by institutions authorised to hold them such as Universities in Packilvania. Petitions which are circulated among the public for the sake of supporting a political cause are usually banned.

Civic society

Non-profit organisations must register with the state, disclose their sources of donations to state. They can be shut down by the government and registration is usually slow and difficult. Applications to form organisations centered around banned topics such sapient rights or democracy are explicitly banned. There are trade unions and professional associations. Professional registration bodies can refuse to grant their members licenses to operate at the request of the government for political reasons. Strikes are permissible but picketing associated with a strike is not. Nevertheless worker organisation especially in low-income work is basically impossible and employers have wide discretion to dismiss workers. Skilled workers benefit form the high demand and rarity of their skills and have superior bargaining power. The government has started to introduce labour protections but enforcement is poor and is based on government intervention following a formal complaint which is typically slow and ineffective. Worker intimidation is nominally illegal but practically difficult to enforce. However, business associations exists and operate fairly freely and tend to be significant media for the lobbying of the government. Paxist associations tend to operate much more freely than other civic society bodies and religious officials are well protected.

Rule of law

The judiciary is independent of and usually free from fear of most of the government except the Sultan and to some extent the Council of Ministers. However Princes are immune from prosecution without the permission of the Sultan. Justices and magistrates up to the most senior levels must undergo interviews and transparent processes for selection. The judiciary's independence relies on the presence of powerful Princes and aristocrats with a vested interest in its independence such as Chief Justice Princes Radeeq. Judges are not known to accept bribes and usually powerful people comply with judicial decisions. Princes can be tried by the Sultan and the Sultan can seek the advice of justices in their sentencing. Executive bodies typically comply with judicial decisions.

Presumption of innocence, protection from self-incrimination, the right to a public trial, an impartial representative are protected by law. However, the use of torture and deception in questioning permissible with a court order. Cases are usually transparent and accessible to the public. The Imperial Procuratorate is virtually immune from interference from other state bodies and is a politically powerful entity unto itself. The Imperial procuratorate is professional and impartial and usually resistant to bribery and corruption. Justices is surprisingly easily accessible through widespread courts and tribunals. Law enforcement usually require a warrant but detention without trial is possible for certain crimes. Capacity issues, overzealous law enforcement and ideological conservatism in the judiciary are impediments to the judiciary. Organized crime is problematic, but the government is making strides in stamping it out and is resistant to its influence.

Corporal punishment is widely used. Arrests and corporal punishments for relatively minor crimes continue to exist. Packilvania has the highest number of incarcerated people and carries out the most executions in the world. The Imperial Procuratorate is usually the most capable body citizens can approach for redress. Parallel structures alongside state institutions have been built which are independent and receive and address public complaints, but their operations is limited and access to them is difficult and their development is at an early stage.

Discrimination

Until recently interspecies marriage was forbidden. Usually religious affiliation and ethnic origin cannot be used to deny access to opportunities and public services. The country provides for granting of asylum to refugees. Skilled immigrant workers have similar rights to their native counterparts but low-skilled immigrant labour has virtually no rights not even the meagre ones granted to citizens. Packilvania does not normally forcibly return people who come as refugees to their countries of origin.

Movement rights

Large cities can restrict immigration to prevent overpopulation. Population registration is extensive and prevention of migration based on place of origin can be enforced. Usually movement is relatively free within the country however state-imposed checkpoints and travel restrictions can be imposed in an emergency. Most women can move around to the same extent as men including drive alone etc.

Private property

People can sell and purchase property freely and the government and other actors usually do not interfere except in the case of foreigners who might require permission or be banned from owning certain property for political reasons or if a city has imposed restrictions on the influx of people from outside it. Women typically surrender their property to their husbands on marriage. However, this can be circumvented through trusts and donations and inheritance are not under the husband's control. Income generated from working is under her husband's control. Women circumvent this by setting up trusts and working as volunteers and receiving a stipend paid through their trust, however this can undermine their labour rights if they are not in skilled sectors. People can freely establish businesses so easily that restrictions are virtually non-existent. Extortion and sabotage of a competitor is heavily repressed by the state and can be subject to heavy punishment.

Personal freedoms

All people are required to dress modestly in public and people are stigmatised for showing excessive and inappropriate public romantic affection. People cannot public identify as, express as or support gender minoriities. Violence arising from acts of physical intimacy is virtually non-existent and the punishment for committing such acts is brutal and even Princes cannot escape punishment for such crimes. Extramarital physical intimacy is forbidden. The government does not restrict the number of children that people can have. Although abortion is not legal enforcement is poor and laws are ambivalent existing only to appease religious conservatives. Birth control measures and contraceptive are freely, publicly and widely accessible. Many of these restrictions arise from the catechism of the Magisterium of Paxism.

Economic freedom

People can freely choose their career. Low skilled workers are not always effectively protected from occupational hazards. The government does not impose quotas or set prices except for essential goods such as basic foodstuffs, medicine and fuel but it prefers to use subsidies as well. Revenues from large state industries are usually spent on the public. The government is taking steps to address forced servitude and transportation and has scrapped bonded labour as a vehicle for debt relief. Although large state companies exist, legal restrictions on competition are virtually non-existent.