noun
duty to act; obligation to act; duty of commission
Legal term referring to a positive obligation to take action, as opposed to a duty to refrain from acting (不作為義務).
医師には患者を救う作為義務がある。
Doctors have a duty to act to save their patients.
作為義務違反が認められれば、損害
If a breach of the duty to act is recognized, liability for damages arises.
不作為義務 is the duty to refrain from acting (duty of omission), while 作為義務 is the duty to take positive action.
Compound of 作為 (action, commission) and 義務 (duty, obligation). The term is primarily used in legal contexts.