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Section 4

This section discusses how human rights must be protected with scientific and technological advancement. It outlines several important international documents that ensure human well-being and dignity, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which affirms everyone's right to benefit from science. The UNESCO Recommendation on Scientific Researchers and Declaration on the Use of Scientific Knowledge both emphasize that advances should only be used to secure well-being. Overall, human rights should guide science and technology to lead humans to flourish together in a sustainable manner.

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810 views2 pages

Section 4

This section discusses how human rights must be protected with scientific and technological advancement. It outlines several important international documents that ensure human well-being and dignity, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which affirms everyone's right to benefit from science. The UNESCO Recommendation on Scientific Researchers and Declaration on the Use of Scientific Knowledge both emphasize that advances should only be used to secure well-being. Overall, human rights should guide science and technology to lead humans to flourish together in a sustainable manner.

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Maan Gasmen
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Section 4: When Science Technology and Humanity Cross

This section discusses quintessential documents that protect human rights and ensure the well-being of
the human person in the face of scientific and technological development.

Human rights in the face of scientific and technological advancement are critical factors in one’s journey
towards eudaimonia. Exercising the right to accept or reject, minimize or maximize, and evaluate and
decide on the scope and function of science and technology indicates human flourishing in science and
technology. Protecting the well-being and upholding the dignity of the human right must be at the core
of continued scientific and technological progress and development.

S. Romi Mukherjee, a senior lecturer in Political Theory and History of Religions at the Paris Institute of
Political Studies, explained a human right-based approach to science, technology, and development as
follows:

The UN Development Programme characterises this approach as one that "leads to better and more
sustainable outcomes by analyzing and addressing the inequalities, discriminatory practices and unjust
power relations which are often at the heart of development problems. It puts the international human
rights entitlements and claims of the people (the 'right-holders') and the corresponding obligations of
the state (the 'duty-bearer') in the centre of the national development debate, and it clarifies the
purpose of capacity development".

Multiple international statues, declarations, and decrees have been produced to ensure well-being and
human dignity. Mukherjee listed some of the most important documents:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 27): affirms everyone's right to participate in and benefit
from scientific advances, and be protected from scientific misuses. The right to the benefits of science
comes under the domain of 'culture', so is usually examined from a cultural rights perspective.

UNESCO Recommendation on the Status of Scientific Researchers — 1974 (article 4):affirms that
all advances in scientific and technological knowledge should be solely geared towards securing well-
being for global citizens, and calls upon member states to develop the necessary protocol and policies to
monitor and secure this objective. Countries are asked to show that science and technology is integrated
into policies that aim to ensure a more humane and just society.

UNESCO Declaration on the Use of Scientific Knowledge — 1999 (article 33): this states, "Today,
more than ever, science and its applications are indispensable for development. All levels of government
and the private sector should provide enhanced support for building up an adequate and evenly distributed
scientific and technological capacity through appropriate education and research programmes as an
indispensable foundation for economic, social, cultural and environmentally sound development. This is
particularly urgent for developing countries. “ This Declaration encompasses issues such as pollution-free
production, efficient resource use, biodiversity protection and brain drains.

Human rights should be integral to the journey toward the ultimate good. Human rights are rights to
sustainability. By imposing upon science and technology the moral and ethical duty to protect and uphold
human rights, there can be more sustainable approach to bridging the gap between poor and rich countries
on both tangible (e.g., services and natural resources) and intangible (e.g., well-being and human dignity
aspects. All these will lead humans to flourish together through science and technology.

https://www.scidev.net/global/human-rights/feature/linking-science-and-human-rights-facts-and-
figures.html

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