Citizenship

What is Citizenship

Citizenship is the representation of an individual in a specific land. “CITIZEN” is a member of a nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to RIGHTS and privileges.

More than a Human

Why does CRW concentrate on CITIZENS and NOT HUMAN in general? CITIZENS and NOT HUMAN: The language meaning, a "Human" is defined as a kind of "Animals" or "branch of great apes".

Using "HUMAN" term leads to vague definition of what "RIGHTS" this "Great Apes" should have in life? Limiting RIGHTS to Humanitarian Rights, means limiting to Rights to Breathing, Eating, Sleeping, mating.

However, Citizens Rights are clear rights with obvious responsible parties. Talking about Governments dedicate its efforts to enhance social and economical rights of its citizens.

"Citizen" is a clear definition of "Human" relation with other "Human" who rules the geographic area which that "Human" lives in.

Accordingly, it is more meaningful to list the "RIGHTS of Citizen" rather than "Rights of Human". In other words, citizen is a member of a nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to RIGHTS and privileges.

Therefore, the modern conclusion for what civil society organizations should watch for are the CITIZENS' RIGHTS. That is why "Citizens Rights Watch" was founded.

  • Children Citizens 0-12
  • Youth Citizens 13-29
  • Adults Citizens 30-59
  • Senior Citizens 60+

Every citizen, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, every citizen shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Every citizen is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

1. Right for Health Care

The Citizens right to health means that everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which includes access to all medical services, sanitation, adequate food, decent housing, healthy working conditions, and a clean environment.

  • The Citizens right to health guarantees a system of health protection for all.
  • Every Citizen has the right to the health care they need, and to living conditions that enable us to be healthy, such as adequate food, housing, and a healthy environment.
  • Health care must be provided as a public good for all citizens, financed publicly and equitably.

The human right to health care means that hospitals, clinics, medicines, and doctors’ services must be accessible, available, acceptable, and of good quality for everyone, on an equitable basis, where and when needed. The design of a health care system must be guided by the following key human rights standards:

  • All countries are responsible for ensuring a right to health to all citizens.
  • The right to health is the economic, social and cultural right to a universal minimum standard of health to which all citizens are entitled. The concept of a right to health has been enumerated in international agreements which include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
  • Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children born in wedlock, shall enjoy the social protection.

2. Right for Housing.

Everyone shares the right to a decent standard of living and fulfillment of human life beyond simple survival is access to adequate housing. Housing fulfills physical needs by providing security and shelter from weather and climate. It fulfills psychological needs by providing a sense of personal space and privacy. It fulfills social needs by providing a gathering area and communal space for the human family, the basic unit of society.

The human right to adequate housing is the right of every woman, man, youth and child to acquire and sustain a secure home and community in which to live in peace and dignity. The right to housing is codified as a human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

  • Every citizen has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
  • No citizen shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property, even if granted by government.

3. Right for Education.

The right to education is a fundamental Citizen right. Every citizen, irrespective of race, gender, ethnic or social origin, religion or political preference, age or disability, is entitled to minimum of a free elementary education. This right is explicitly stated in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted in 1948:

Ensuring access to education is a precondition for full realization of the right to education. Without access, it is not possible to guarantee the right to education.

Providing access to schools secures only one part of the right to education. Once in school, children can be subjected to indoctrination. As stated, in the UDHR:

The right to education does not limit education to the primary or the first stage of basic education, or among children of a particular age range. The right to education is also not an end to itself, but an important tool in improving the quality of life. Education is key to economic development and the enjoyment of many other citizens rights. Education provides a means through which all people can become aware of their rights and responsibilities, which is an essential tool for achieving the goals of equality and peace.

As part of the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012), the Commission on Human Rights urged member states:

The right to education entitles every citizen to:

  • 1. Free and compulsory elementary education, and to readily available forms of secondary and higher education
  • 2. Freedom from discrimination in all areas and levels of education, and to equal access to continuing education and vocational training
  • 3. Information about health, nutrition, reproduction, and family planning

The right to education is universal, indivisible, interconnected, and interdependent including the right to:

  • Equality between the boy-child and girl-child in all areas, including education, health, nutrition, and employment.
  • Freedom from discrimination in all areas and levels of education
  • Learn in one's own language
  • Education for children of migrant workers
  • Education for persons with disabilities and the freedom from discrimination in access to education
  • Share in the benefits of scientific progress
  • Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

4. Right for Employment

Every citizen has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment, and receive wages that contribute to an adequate standard of living

Every citizen, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

Every citizen who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

Every citizen has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Every citizen has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

5. Right to liberty & Equal Opportunity.

Every citizen has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

Every citizen has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to practice his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Every citizen has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Every citizen has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

6. Right to Security and Dignity

All citizens are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Every citizen has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

No citizen shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Every citizen is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

Everyone has the right to get his country's nationality.

No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality

  • Support and defend Country’s Constitution.
  • Respect and obey Country’s Laws.
  • Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of Country Residents.
  • Pay taxes and government fees honestly.
  • Defend the Country.