URDANETA CITY UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

URDANETA CITY, PANGASINAN
MATH & SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

When Technology and Humanity Cross

According to Leah Levin from her book “The Human Rights Questions and Answers”, human beings are
born equal in dignity and rights. These are moral claims that are inalienable and inherent in all human
individuals by virtue of their humanity alone. These claims are articulated and formulated in what we call
today “human rights” and have been translated into legal rights established according to law creating
processes of societies, both on the national and international level.

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity,
language, religion or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from
slavery and torture, freedom from opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many
more.

The Right to Benefit from advances in Science and Technology

In its 1947 statement on the “Grounds of an International Declaration of Human Rights,” the Committee
on the Theoretical Bases of Human Rights, convened by UNESCO, included the “Right to Share in
Progress” according to which “every man has the right to fully access the enjoyment of the technical and
cultural achievements of civilization” (UNESCO 1948). According to committee member J. M. Burgers,
Professor at the Technical College of Delft, the Netherlands, “the part played by science in modern society
makes possible and at the same time puts upon us the obligation of international co-operation, as well as
of looking into the future in the interest of coming generations” (UNESCO 1948). He articulated a duty of
the community “of setting aside from its funds means for elaborate scientific research, as a means for
alleviating wants of mankind, for the development of mankind, and for the pursuit of truth” (UNESCO
1948).

These ideas are reflected in article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In Article 15 it states
the right of everyone” both “to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications” and “to
benefit from the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or
artistic production. In 2005, Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights recognize the
importance of freedom of scientific research and the benefits derived from scientific and technological
developments and promote equitable access to medical, scientific and technological developments
(UNESCO 2005). Further, benefits resulting from any scientific research and its applications should be
shared with society as a whole and within the international community, in particular with developing
countries”.

Threats to human rights from Science and Technology

The dangers of the misuse of science were also a concern of the UN in the 1940s through the 1990s. The
International Conference on Human Rights of 1968 adopted the Proclamation of Tehran predicting that,
while recent scientific discoveries and technological advances have opened vast prospects for economic,
social and cultural progress, such developments may nevertheless endanger the rights and freedoms of
individuals.

There are four issues of concern with regard to human rights arising out of science and technological
advancement, namely, (1) respect for privacy “in light of advances in recording and other techniques;” (2)
protection of physical and intellectual integrity in light of advances in biology, medicine and biochemistry;
(3) limits on the use of electronics to protect the rights of individuals; and (4) “generally, the balance that
should be established between scientific and technological progress and the intellectual, spiritual, cultural
and moral advancement of humanity” (United Nations 1968b).

Human rights principles can guide efforts to ensure that everyone benefits from scientific advances. How
do they intersect with science, policy and practice, and what stands in the way of a rights-based approach
to S&T for development?

Once human rights in the face of scientific and technological advancement are critical factors in the
journey toward Eudaimonia or the good life. Exercise of the right to accept and reject minimize or
maximize, evaluate and decide on the scope and function of science and technology. The protection of
the well-being and the upholding of dignity of the human person must be at core of the continued
progress and development. Such is the focus of a human rights –based approach to science and
technology, and development.

According to S. Rom Mukherjee, PhD. in sociology and history of religions, University of Chicago. He
outlines human rights-based approaches to science, technology and development and what he means for
policy and practice. Please study the statements of S. Rom Mukherjee below:

A human rights-based approach to science, technology and development seeks to place a concern for
human rights at the heart of how the international community engages with urgent global challenges. It
entered the UN's lexicon in 1997, with Kofi Annan's call for human rights to be integrated into the UN's
mandates, management, and methodologies for development and international cooperation.

The UN Development Program characterizes 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 center of the national development debate, and it clarifies the purpose of
capacity development".

S. Rom Mukherjee added that the approach requires scientists to go beyond knowing how their work
relates to human rights and demands that they strive to secure and affirm human rights through the
knowledge they produce. For instance, a right-based approach to virus studies in potentially creating an
ethical framework that guides research as it evolves — would not only push the frontiers of medicine and
seek medical benefits, but actively guard against the potential to create new biological weapons.

Moreover, Human rights-based approach recognizes that science is a societal enterprise which is value-
laden and shaped by organization structures and procedures. It also asks how government/state and
other stakeholders can create and implement policies to ensure safety, health and livelihoods and to
include people’s need and priorities in development and environmental sustainability.

The table below provides the documents for a human rights-based approach to science, technology, and
development.
DOCUMENT KEY PRINCIPLES

Universal Declaration of Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the
Human Rights (UDHR) community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and
(Article 27) its benefits.”

www.UNESCO.org

UNESCO This document pertains to the advances in scientific and technological

Recommendation on the knowledge should solely be geared towards the welfare of the global
Status of Scientific citizens and calls upon member states to develop necessary protocol
researchers -1974 and policies to monitor and secure this objective.
(Article 4)
Countries are asked to show that science and technology are integrated
into policies that aim to ensure a more humane and just society.

UNESCO Declaration on Governments, in co-operation with universities and higher education

the use of scientific institutions, and with the help of relevant United Nations organizations,
knowledge -1999 should extend and improve education, training and facilities for human
(Article 33) resources development in environment-related sciences, utilizing also
traditional and local knowledge. Special efforts in this respect are
required in developing countries with the co-operation of the international
community.

There is really a connection between science, technology and human rights. There is a history of shared
values way back 18th century or the age of enlightenment. Principles of freedom and equality are
contained in the earlier declaration of the rights of man. In addition, there’s an explicit recognition of the
right to science and the international human rights law that acknowledges the relevance of the practice
and conduct of science, protection of the rights of scientists, rights to information and to movement,
freedom of expression and association, education and work and most importantly health.

In a nutshell, it is important that science and technology should adhere to the moral and ethical duty to
protect and uphold human rights.