Homepage > Citizenship > Rights and Responsibilities
We all have rights but it's important to remember that we have responsibilities too. Responsibilities can be legal (for example, to pay taxes and obey other laws) or they can be moral.
Something that is moral is the right or correct thing to do, even though we are not forced to do it by law. For example, dropping litter or spitting in the street. No one will arrest you for it, but the street would look a lot better if you didn't.
If someone has the right to free speech, then you have the responsibility not to shut them up (and so take away their right).
If you have the right to education, someone has the responsibility to provide it for you and you have the responsibility not to disrupt lessons and prevent your classmates from their right to education.
Wherever there are rights, responsibilities also exist otherwise no one would be able to receive their rights. It's about balance.
Back in the 1940's, after World War II, the United Nations decided to make a list of rights that everybody on the planet should have, no matter where they are from, what colour or religion they are. Everyone is equal.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is generally agreed to be a standard for all people in the world to live by. It is also the basis for other human rights legislation, such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the rights of the child.
In the UK the Human Rights Act came into effect in 2000. At various ages the law gives you the right to do certain things.
If we feel our rights have been violated by a public authority, such as a local council, the police or a hospital (not an individual), we can go to our own courts.
The Act is designed to protect all citizens of the United Kingdom. It includes the following:
- The right to life
- Freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment
- Freedom from forced labour
- Right to liberty
- Right to a fair trial
- Privacy
- Freedom from discrimination
An overview of child well being in rich countries provides a pioneering picture of child well being. This was informed by the Convention on the rights of a child.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Look at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to see what other rights you have. It is not a law, but is a standard accepted by most countries in the world.
UNICEF
The UN Children's Fund's youth pages tell you more about your rights.
Human Rights Watch
Read about the organisation's special campaigns to protect children's rights.
Human Rights Act 1998
Find out about your rights in the Human Rights Act 1988.
Liberty Human Rights
See what the campaigners say about our rights.
Respect4Us
This website has a great interactive section teaching the rights we all have to live a life that is free of violence and threat.
Your Rights
Information telling you about your rights at work.
Your Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you for posting a comment.
Your message will be moderated before going live on the site.
Please enter a message.
Why not rate this article? Give this article your rating from (1) not very helpful to (5) very helpful