ABSTRACT
A citizen is a full member of a community. The acknowledgement that all people should have full citizenship rights was enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The elements of citizenship can be summarised under three categories: social, political and civil. Citizenship involves membership of a community. The concept makes sense for members of any group whose actions and decisions affect each other. The structures and means through which we can exercise our responsibility to ensure the full rights of citizenship for all include: the United Nations and its agencies; our own governments – local and national; voluntary organisations; and many aspects of our lifestyles – such as our involvement with commercial companies, our behaviour as tourists and our uses of resources. Being an effective citizen needs particular attitudes, knowledge, understanding, skills and experience. Developing these is a lifelong, evolutionary process – like education.
