prawa

Prawa is a Polish noun with two related meanings that depend on context: the body of rules established by a state or authority (laws), and the entitlements or liberties possessed by individuals or groups (rights). The word is the plural form of prawo, which can mean law or right, and its precise sense is determined by surrounding terms. In everyday language, people speak of human rights (prawa człowieka), civil rights (prawa obywatelskie), consumer rights (prawa konsumenckie), or property rights (prawa własności). In legal writing, phrases such as prawa i obowiązki (rights and duties) and prawa autorskie (copyrights) are common. The discipline of law itself is usually called prawo in the singular, as in prawo cywilne (civil law) or prawo karne (criminal law).

Polish law is a system of codified rules, with fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution and protected by the judiciary. Many rights also arise from international agreements and European Union law, which interact with national statutes to determine remedies and enforcement. Rights may be limited in proportion to public interest or safety, subject to due process and proportionality.

Etymology: the word originates from the Proto-Slavic term pravъ, connected to notions of correctness and order; cognate terms appear across Slavic languages. Over time, the concept evolved from customary norms to a modern, codified framework that governs public and private relations in Poland and in relation to EU and international law.