Rights and responsibilities

Right

A moral entitlement to have or to do something

Moral right

What we expect from others in particular situations

Legal right

Expectations in the law and where there will be legal action if they are not followed

Responsibility

The duty to follow legal and moral rights

Criminal responsibility

When children are seen as ‘knowing the difference between right and wrong’ and are therefore able to stand trial and be convicted for crimes

This is 10 in the UK

Against justifications for age of responsibility to be raised

• On feb 12th 1993 two 10 yr olds murdered 2 yr old James Patrick Bulger, they were fully aware of what they had done

• Children at 10 have an understanding of right and wrong so they should be responsible

• Young people would be more likely to break the law if they thought nothing would happen to them

For arguements for raising age of criminal responsibility

• Children raised from different backgrounds may have a warped perception on right and wrong

• Other countries have higher ages such as Poland(13) or Brazil(18)

Legal ages to:

• Drive

• Marry

• Vote

• Join the armed forces

17, 18, 16, 16

Background to the Magna Carta

Sealed by King John in 1215, address the balance of power between the monarchy and the barons, as well as the rights of freemen.

Provisions of the Magna Carta

• Protection of Chirch rights

• Limitations on feudal payments and taxation

• Legal protections for freemen

Significance of Magna Carta in development of rights

It established the principal that no one is above the law, it guaranteed the right to a fair trial, and the protection of individual rights. It shaped the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights

Declaration of human rights 1948

Protects right to shelter, life, freedom of movement and privacy

The European Convention of Human Rights 1953

Protects access to human rights and freedoms

United Nations Convention on the rights of a child 1990

Protects right to play, right to education, freedom of expression

Human rights act 1998

Right to life, right to respect private and family life, right to freedom of religion and belief

The Hilsborough disaster

It was a tragic crowd crish that occurred April 15 1989. To ease the congestion of fans on the pitch, the order of an exit gate to be opened was followed, allowing thousands of fans to enter which led to a fatal crush, 97 died, 766 injured.

They did not have the human right of protection. The leaders were not held accountable