# Myth: 'The Constitution Is All About Rights and Nobody Mentions Duties'

> Myth: 'The Constitution is just about demanding rights; duties are forgotten.' Fact: the section is titled 'Rights, Freedoms and Duties.' Duties are written out explicitly: taxes, defence, care for children and parents, protection of the environment. Rights and duties are inseparable.

Canonical URL: https://constitution.my/p/myths-rights-vs-duties?lang=en
Language: en
Updated: 2026-07-26

Section: Myths

## The myth

"Everyone just demands rights, and duties have been forgotten. The Constitution is about 'what I'm owed.'"

## The facts

The relevant section of the Constitution is titled "Rights, Freedoms and **Duties** of the Person and Citizen." The word "duties" is right there in the heading.

**Specific duties:**
- Observe the Constitution and laws
- Pay taxes and levies
- Defend the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Care for children (maintain and raise them)
- Care for incapacitated parents
- Protect nature and the environment
- Respect the rights and freedoms of others
- Complete secondary education – an obligation, not only a right

**How rights and duties are connected:**

| Your right | Related duty | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Free education | Pay taxes | Schools are funded from your taxes |
| Security | Defend the country | The army and police are a collective effort |
| A healthy environment | Protect nature | Clean air is the result of shared responsibility |
| Social protection | Pay taxes | Pensions and benefits come from tax revenue |

**Breaching duties is not abstract:**
- Non-payment of taxes → administrative or criminal liability
- Evasion of military service → liability under the law
- Failure to pay child support → enforcement through the courts

## Why this myth exists

The media discuss rights more often – they make better headlines. "Freedom of expression" is a story. "The duty to pay taxes" is not. But in the constitutional text itself, duties occupy as much space as rights.

## Key Facts

- The section is titled "Rights, Freedoms and Duties" – duties are in the heading
- Specific duties: taxes, defence, children, parents, environment, laws
- Breaching duties brings real consequences (fines, courts, criminal proceedings)
- The 2026 Constitution retains all duties and strengthens the environmental one

## Checked sources

- [Official publication of the 2026 Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan](https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K2600000000) – Adilet Legal Information System (checked 2026-07-16)

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Source: https://constitution.my/p/myths-rights-vs-duties?lang=en
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