proven guilty in a legal trial in which he is guaranteed the necessary guarantees to exercise the right of defense at all stages of the investigation and trial in accordance with the law. 4.7 Consequently, the NIHR views the right to a fair trial as a standard of the International Human Rights Law aimed at protecting people from the impairment of their rights with regard to their legal status before judicial bodies. In addition, NIHR views the right to a fair trial as a fundamental pillar of the fair trial provided for in international instruments starting with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article (11/1) of the Declaration states that "... he (the adversary) has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense”, followed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article (14/3-b), which stipulates that “…to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defense …”. The right of defense is further affirmed in Article (20/c) of the Constitution stating that “… in which he is assured of the necessary guarantees to exercise the right of defense...”. Noting that assessing the rulings handed down by the judiciary is outside the competence of the NIHR because there are other legal means through which these provisions can be challenged. 4.8 In accordance with the mandate granted to the NIHR pursuant to Article (12) of its Establishment Law, NIHR, during the year 2017, received a number of complaints and requests for legal assistance and advice regarding the right to fair trial guarantees. There were (6) complaints that were archived since the desired results were reached, (32) requests for legal assistance and advice, (27) requests are still under Parallel Report by the National Institution for Human Rights of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Human Rights Committee © 2018 33