Rights And Responsibilities

Rights And Responsibilities

Every individual has rights, and with rights, comes responsibilities. The similarities and differences show the interrelationship and interdependence between rights and responsibilities; where one right will always have a corresponding responsibility, and vice versa. This relationship between rights and responsibilities is further highlighted by Australia’s lack of a bill of rights and the questionable effectiveness of International law.

Individuals are entitled to their rights and are subjected to the corresponding responsibilities. Rights are entitlements and freedoms that are granted to individuals. Legal rights are contained in statutes, common law and the Constitution, and are officially binding. An example is the right to a trial by jury, which is outlined in s80 of the Australian Constitution. The Anti-Discrimination Act 1997 (NSW) expresses the right not to be discriminated against based on differences such as gender, age, disability or religion. There are also moral rights, which are the ethical freedoms which may differ depending on an individual’s own beliefs. Issues such as euthanasia and abortions are controversial moral rights, but are not granted through law. In NSW, under section 31C of the Crimes Act 1990 (NSW), it is an offence to give assistance to someone who wishes to commit suicide. A survey in 2009 reports that over 85% of Australian’s support the practice of Euthanasia, particularly those over 65. In a recent Sydney Morning Herald article by Melissa Iaria, she reports that ‘A loving husband acted out of compassion for his wife when he incited her to commit suicide. This crime carries a jail term of five years, but Victor Rijn (the accused) believed it was the ‘only humane’ thing to do, and that ‘laws needed to be changed so people helping loved ones were not charged.’

Responsibilities are the moral or legal obligations an individual has to another individual. Legal responsibilities are those which, under law, we must abide by. The...