Rights, Responsibilities and Citizenship: notes

Citizenship

• A person can be a citizen by birth, by descent or by registration.
• Citizens have rights and also duties.

Rights

• The Declaration of Rights in the Constitution lists rights such as life, personal liberty, education, health care and a clean environment.
• Special protection is given to children, women, older persons and people with disabilities.
• Rights have limits: your rights must not harm other people.

Responsibilities

• Obey the law and respect others.
• Pay taxes.
• Vote and take part in community life.
• Protect public property and the environment.

Peace and conflict

• Solve disputes through talking, listening and compromise.
• Child abuse and child labour break children's rights.

Common mistake

Rights and responsibilities go together. Having a right to education also means attending and respecting school rules.