Rights and Responsibilities Overview

What is a 'right'?

• Something you earn through hard work

• Something you are allowed to do or have

• A special privilege given to a few people

• A rule set by the government that everyone must follow

What is a 'responsibility'?

• Something you are given without effort

• Something you are expected to do or take care of

• A special reward for good behavior

• A freedom that has no limits

How are rights and responsibilities connected?

• They are completely separate and do not affect each other

• You can have one without the other, they are independent

• They are two sides of the same coin, always tied together

• Responsibilities always come before rights

If you have the right to an education, what is a corresponding responsibility?

• To play video games all day

• To attend school and do your homework

• To ignore your teachers and classmates

• To only learn what you want to learn

If you have the right to feel comfortable and not be treated badly, what is your responsibility towards others?

• To only care about your own feelings

• To treat others badly if they treat you badly

• To care about others and help them feel comfortable

• To ignore how others are treated

Who are 'right holders'?

• Only governments and leaders

• Only adults who vote

• Individuals and communities who hold rights

• People who make laws and rules

Who are 'duty bearers'?

• People who have many responsibilities in their personal lives

• Institutions (like governments) responsible for guaranteeing rights

• Individuals who protect their own rights

• People who violate the rights of others

What is the first step a duty bearer must take regarding rights?

• Protect the rights of others

• Fulfill the rights by providing resources

• Respect the rights by not interfering with them

• Ignore any rights that are difficult to uphold

What does it mean for a duty bearer to 'fulfill' a right?

• To not interfere with the right

• To prevent others from interfering with the right

• To take active steps, like building schools or hospitals, to help people enjoy the right

• To punish those who violate rights

Why is understanding your rights important?

• It makes you more powerful than others

• It allows you to ignore your responsibilities

• It gives you the power to hold duty bearers accountable and stand up for the rights of others

• It means you don't have to follow rules