Residents' Rights and Responsibilities
FoundationRights come with responsibilities: children have rights to survival, protection, development and participation, while also obeying the law, respecting others, caring for the environment and joining in community life.
- Rights are what we deserve; responsibilities are what we owe — the two go together.
- Children's rights fall into survival, protection, development and participation.
- Obeying the law, respecting others and caring for the environment are basic duties.
文體小知識：公民教育說明文講解權利與責任的道理，配上生活例子，學會做個盡責的社區小公民。
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1Rights are the treatment and chances every person deserves; responsibilities are the things we ought to do. In a community, residents enjoy rights and carry responsibilities, like the two sides of a coin: we have the right to use parks and libraries, and the duty to care for them; the right to education, and the duty to study hard.
2The Convention on the Rights of the Child protects children all over the world. Its rights can be grouped into four kinds: survival rights, such as food, shelter and medical care; protection rights, such as safety from abuse and exploitation; development rights, such as education and play; and participation rights, such as giving views on matters that affect us.
3As little residents of the community, we have duties too: obey laws and rules, such as waiting for the green light when crossing; respect others' rights, such as keeping quiet in public places; care for the environment, such as keeping streets clean; and join in school and community activities, lending a hand to those in need.
4When rights are breached, know how to protect yourself and ask for help: if you are bullied, tell teachers and parents; if there is a safety problem at home, let adults handle it. District councils and government departments welcome residents' views. Learn to express yourself calmly — community matters belong to everyone, and so do community duties.
1Summary 重點摘要
Rights come with responsibilities: children have rights to survival, protection, development and participation, while also obeying the law, respecting others, caring for the environment and joining in community life.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The treatment and chances every person deserves, such as education.
The things we ought to do, such as keeping rules and finishing homework.
The international treaty protecting children's rights worldwide.
The right to food, shelter, clean water and medical care.
The right to be safe from abuse, exploitation and neglect.
The right to education, play and rest so as to grow up healthy.
The right to express views on matters affecting us and to be heard.
Putting forward suggestions properly to councillors, departments or schools.
Deliberately hurting, frightening or excluding others — a breach of their rights.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Tell rights from responsibilitiesRights are what we may enjoy; responsibilities are what we ought to do, and the two must be told apart. We have the right to play in the park, and the duty to queue and not damage the equipment; the right to go to school, and the duty to finish homework on time. Claiming rights without doing duties harms others, and the rights themselves cannot last. Rights give us the care and chances we deserve; responsibilities keep the community running — both matter equally.
- Step 2: Learn the four kinds of children's rightsChildren enjoy four basic kinds of rights: survival, development, protection and participation. Survival rights mean three meals a day and a doctor when ill; development rights mean school lessons and play after class; protection rights mean safety from abuse and bullying; participation rights mean having a say at home and at school. Knowing these rights tells us what we deserve. The Convention on the Rights of the Child protects children everywhere — rich or poor, of any race or state of health, all enjoy equal rights.
- Step 3: See how rights and duties go togetherRights and responsibilities are two sides of one coin and always go together. We enjoy living in a clean community, so we take on the duty of not littering; we enjoy playgrounds, so we take on the duty of caring for public property. Think of the duty before enjoying the right, and community life becomes respectful and pleasant. While enjoying a right, remember that others enjoy the same right — so think of others as well as yourself, and treat them with respect.
- Step 4: Carry out duties dailyResponsibilities do not wait until we grow up; daily life is the place to carry them out. Obey the traffic lights when crossing the road, keeping yourself and drivers safe; queue in order without pushing in; sort rubbish for recycling to cut waste; help classmates in need and bring care to those around you. Doing small things well is the beginning of responsibility. A sense of duty grows from small days; doing your part daily prepares you to take on greater responsibilities when you grow up.
- Step 5: Voice opinions calmlyBesides doing our duties, we also have the right to express opinions — calmly and sensibly. To ask for more swings in the park, tell a district councillor or write through the school to the department concerned, giving facts as reasons, for example that many children live nearby but play facilities are few. Polite, well-reasoned opinions work far better than temper. It is good if the suggestion is accepted, but even if not, the process of expressing yourself calmly is valuable learning.
- Step 6: Ask for help when rights are breachedWhen your rights are violated, never keep silent — ask for help. If you are bullied by classmates, tell your teachers and parents at once so adults can step in; if a stranger threatens or hurts you, leave the scene immediately and call nine-nine-nine for help. Asking for help is not weakness but the right way to protect your rights. There are many channels: teachers, parents, the school counsellor and social workers — turn to an adult you trust.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: Hin says, I have the right to play, so I can stay up all night gaming even on the eve of an exam. What is wrong with his view?
- He thinks only of his right to play and forgets the other side — responsibility.
- Pupils have the right to games and rest, and also the duty to study hard and answer for their own future.
- Gaming all night before an exam spoils his revision and worries his family.
- The sensible plan is to finish the revision plan first, then arrange gaming time at the weekend, balancing right and duty.
- Answer: Rights and responsibilities always go together. Hin should first carry out his duty to study and finish his revision plan, then enjoy his right to play in moderation, keeping a balance between the two — being fair to himself and to his family.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What are rights? What are responsibilities?
Q2Into what four groups can children's rights be sorted?
Q3Give one pair of a right and its matching responsibility.
Q4How can we ask for better community facilities?
Q5What should we do if we are bullied?
8Recap Recap
- Rights are what we deserve; responsibilities are what we owe — the two go together.
- Children's rights fall into survival, protection, development and participation.
- Obeying the law, respecting others and caring for the environment are basic duties.
- Learn to voice opinions to district councils and departments calmly.
- When rights are breached, ask trusted adults for help.