Obligations are the commitments or responsibilities that citizens assume in the exercise of their rights. This means that there are no rights without responsibilities, and vice versa.
| Rights | Obligations | |
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| Definition | These are provisions that allow citizens to have citizen participation, through assured principles, rights, freedoms and guarantees. | These are the responsibilities that citizens have towards the State. |
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What are rights?
Rights are the provisions or guarantees that people have to be able to enjoy a series of freedoms provided by the State.
The rights of citizens are enshrined in the constitution of each country and may therefore vary.
However, a fundamental international instrument for defining these rights is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a series of universal postulates established by the United Nations in 1948.
Below we will see the most important rights:
1. Right to life
Every citizen has the right to life, and this right will be realized in different ways depending on the laws of each country. However, in general terms, States are obliged to provide all necessary mechanisms to ensure that this right is protected.
Some of these mechanisms are:
- Legal mechanisms.
- Protection against diseases through public health mechanisms.
- Medical care for pregnant women.
- Social measures for the protection of people in vulnerable situations.
2. Right to freedom of expression
Everyone has the right to express their opinions and ideas freely. The exercise of this right may not violate the rights of other individuals by defaming or exposing their private life.
In countries with authoritarian regimes, this right is not only not fulfilled, but citizens are coerced into not expressing their ideas freely.
3. Right to free association
Every citizen has the right to freely associate with others, as long as it is done legally, respecting the rules established by each country for these cases.
This right is especially useful in economic activities, as it can generate a positive impact on the local, regional or global economy, directly or indirectly benefiting other people.
All persons have the right to access the educational system and the State must provide the relevant means to achieve this.
This right is expressed in the incorporation of citizens into free and compulsory primary education, accessible secondary education and equitable higher education.
5. Right to health
Through this right, States guarantee a free and quality public health system to which citizens can have access without discrimination.
The right to health should be preventive in nature in the first instance; this helps to guarantee better living conditions and a lower incidence of diseases in the population.
6. Right to vote
Caregivers have the right to a universal and secret vote to elect their leaders, whether at local or national levels.
However, this right remains limited for many women in various countries around the world, which represents a major challenge to social evolution.
7. Right to free movement
Any person has the right to move freely within the territory of which they are citizens, and may travel to other territories, as long as they comply with the current laws of the destination countries.
Each State is free to establish mechanisms to limit free transit in situations that require it (disturbance of public order, natural disasters, etc.).
8. Right to work
States must promote measures that stimulate the activation of the economy through job creation.
Measures that serve to protect workers, guaranteeing their access to the economic system through employment and fair treatment that allows them to carry out their work and contribute to society.
9. Right to housing
Every person has the right to decent housing that provides the basic conditions for their personal development.
States must guarantee this right through measures that allow citizens to have access to housing, whether through public, private or mixed initiatives (social housing, microcredits, etc.).
10. Right to private property
Citizens have the right to acquire property in their own name, whether as natural persons or legal entities, as long as it is done within the legal framework of each country.
What are obligations?
Obligations are a series of responsibilities that must be respected by citizens, and failure to comply with them may lead to legal sanctions.
As with rights, civic obligations vary depending on the constitution of each country; however, these are some of the most common ones in many current legislations:
11. Defend the constitution and the laws
All citizens must respect and defend the constitution of their country and contribute to social coexistence by complying with the corresponding laws.
12. Defend the territory in case of armed conflict
In some countries, military service is compulsory. Citizen participation is also required in cases where military action is required, such as attacks on sovereignty or national territory, upon prior call from the relevant authorities.
13. Provide civil service
This obligation refers to the participation of citizens in civil or military activities in the event of natural disasters or situations of social unrest.
14. Pay taxes
Tax payments by citizens are used to finance public spending, which is why in many laws it is an obligation whose non-compliance is severely sanctioned.
To pay taxes, each country establishes its own requirements, but generally you must be of legal age, carry out an economic activity and generate a minimum monthly or annual income.
15. Work
Work, in addition to being a right, is an obligation that must be fulfilled by citizens, always in accordance with the terms established by law and preserving the safety and dignity of the person.
16. Exercise the electoral vote
In countries with democratic regimes, electoral participation is not only a right, it is also a duty that citizens must assume. It is the obligation and responsibility of individuals to elect their representatives.
17. Protect heritage
It is the obligation of citizens to protect the elements that make up the cultural identity of their country or region, that is, their language, traditions, monuments, natural environment, etc.
18. Promote peace and social coexistence
Citizens are obliged to promote harmonious social coexistence by complying with laws, actions and regulations that contribute to civil peace.
In everyday practice, non-discrimination and social inclusion are two ways of doing this.
19. Actively participate in the community
Citizens are expected to actively participate in building peace and social progress through multiple avenues established by each country.
In many cases, this obligation consists of participating as observers or witnesses in electoral processes, or as a juror in a court, after fulfilling the corresponding requirements.
20. Pursue basic education.
Education is a right, but also a responsibility that the individual must assume in order to acquire the basic knowledge and skills that allow for complete personal development.
Rights and obligations of children
Children also have rights and obligations.
In this regard, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, issued in 1989 by the United Nations, establishes children’s rights. UNICEF distributes the Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities, which outlines their responsibilities.
Prominent principles include the right to identity and the right to protection by the State against any form of economic exploitation. Key obligations for children include the responsibility to respect other children.
They also have the responsibility to share the knowledge acquired at school with other peers, especially if the latter have some type of disability or physical or mental condition.
- Rights and obligations of children .
- Difference between human rights and fundamental rights.
- Human rights and individual guarantees .
- Rights and duties .
- Difference between equality and equity.
- Characteristics of Human Rights .
Conclusion
In summary, rights and obligations are integral components of social order and individual identity. Rights empower individuals to pursue their interests and express themselves, while obligations ensure that these freedoms do not infringe upon the rights of others. Striking a balance between the two is essential for a harmonious society. As we navigate our roles within communities, recognizing and respecting both our rights and obligations fosters mutual understanding and cooperation, ultimately contributing to a more just and equitable world.
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