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13Юридические науки
LEGAL LITERACY IS A MODERN REQUIREMENT
Z.X. Sarsenova1
Abstract
This article speaks about the need for legal awareness, civic activism as water and air for every Uzbek child in our country, which strives for a strong civil society, the duty of each of us to protect the Motherland, and the highest happiness to be a worthy child. Only a broad-minded, patriotic, legally literate person can achieve such happiness.
Key words: Motherland, civil society, legal consciousness, spirituality, norms, cultural development, literacy, society, law, decree.
Originally, the term legal literacy was used to refer to an aspect of professional legal education. To be legally literate meant that you were capable of reading and writing the legal arguments, briefs, opinions, judgments and legislation that contribute to the body of law. This is a "literal" definition of legal literacy as being "literate in the law".
Used in this sense, legal literacy is primarily a concern of legal writing programs in law schools that teach students to think, and communicate "like lawyers". Later, a broader meaning of legal literacy became more common as a result of two different approaches to the concept. One approach considers legal literacy as a capacity spread along a continuum, with lawyers and judges at one end and relatively incapable laypersons at the other. This approach was adopted by the legal scholar White who considered legal literacy to mean "that degree of competence in legal discourse required for meaningful and active life in our increasingly legalistic and litigious culture." (White 1983, 144) Another legal writer describes legal literacy as a "spectrum of functional skills" related to the conduct of litigation (Bilder 1999, 51). According to the continuum approach a certain degree of legal literacy is required for effective participation in modern society, but it is not necessary for the average citizen to reach the professional standard of "thinking (and writing) like a lawyer" [2].
Not understanding the legal community is like being a lost person in the desert. Failure to follow the laws of each country and the rules of society can lead to all sorts of bad consequences. It is important to know the legal norms related to one's lifestyle, work and education. This applies to human legal literacy.
The concepts of law and spirituality are inextricably linked, and they are developing in an integral way, building each other, creating a humane civil society. It is well-known that this cannot be done without spirituality. The First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov considered the spiritual, moral and cultural progress of our people as a guarantee of deepening the ancient democratic processes.
As we have said, the content and scope of democracy will not be in demand until we have reached spiritual maturity, until our actions have risen to the level of common sense and common good. This is directly related to the process of radical change in the minds and worldviews of citizens. From this point of view, of course, this process is determined by literacy. So, one of the main features of spirituality and culture is literacy and science, which are the foundation of our spiritual wealth.
On January 9, 2019, the President signed a decree "On radical improvement of the system of raising legal awareness and legal culture in society." It emphasizes that while everyone lives in our country, their interests must be respected by other members of that society.
It is not so today. Because this requires a high level of legal awareness and legal culture of the population. Unfortunately, the decree notes that there are a number of problems and shortcomings that prevent citizens from raising the level of legal literacy, raising their legal awareness and legal culture to a higher level.
1Sarsenova Zarifa Xudayberdiyevna - law teacher, Navoi city 2nd school, Uzbekistan.
YneHbiH XXI BeKa • 2020 • № 12-1 (71)
The decree states that the work on raising the legal awareness and legal culture of citizens is not carried out in a systematic and integrated manner. The decree sets out the tasks to be performed in order to raise the legal awareness and legal culture of the population, especially young people. These include: establishing a spirit of respect for the law in society; deepening legal awareness and legal culture in all segments of the population, starting from the pre-school education system; to inculcate in the minds of the younger generation the concepts of law and duty, honesty and purity from childhood; to take measures to strengthen the sense of belonging and patriotism. The decree also stipulates that government agencies, public and civil society institutions should work together to raise legal awareness and legal culture in society [1].
Today, Uzbekistan is one of the most literate countries. More than 95% of the population of Uzbekistan is literate. However, it should be noted that on May 20, 1997, the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov at a meeting with heads of law enforcement agencies, and later in the "National Program for Raising Legal Culture in Society" approved on August 29, 1997-year increasing knowledge was seen as the most important issue ahead. Because in a democratic state, our attitude to the Constitution and the decrees is determined by this legal knowledge. In this regard, an important task has been set to increase the level of knowledge of lawyers in the presence of such centers as the Institute of Law in Tashkent, the Ministry of Justice, to explain to our people the essence of the law.
References:
1. O. Karimova, N. Ismatova, SH. Sariqov, O. Amanova. Fundamentals of the state and law of Uzbekistan. Textbook. "Law and Society Publishing House. Tashkent. 2019-y.
2. https://hozir.org/navbahor-engil-sanoat-kasb-hunar-kolleji.html?page=11
3. https://www.athabascau.ca/syllabi/lgst/docs/LGST249_sample.pdf
© Z.X. Sarsenova, 2020.
