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.