Human rights and scientific and technological developments : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Noting that scientific and technological progress is one of the decisive factors in the development of human society,

Recalling the Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 3384 (XXX) of 10 November 1975,

Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Declaration on Social Progress and Development,

Conscious that it is only the creative genius of man that makes progress and the development of civilization possible in a peaceful environment and that human life must be recognized as supreme,

Recalling the fundamental importance of the right to life,

Convinced that in the era of modern scientific and technological progress, the resources of mankind and the activities of scientists should be used to promote the peaceful economic, social and cultural development of countries and to improve the living standards of all people,

Bearing in mind that the exchange and transfer of scientific and technological knowledge is one of the important ways to accelerate the social and economic development of the developing countries,

Recalling its relevant resolutions,

1.         Reaffirms the value of the Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind in the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

2.         Calls upon all States to make every effort to use the achievements of science and technology in order to promote peaceful social, economic and cultural development and progress;

3.         Recalls the historic responsibility of the Governments of all countries of the world to preserve civilization and to ensure that everyone enjoys his or her inherent right to life, and calls upon them to do their utmost to assist in protecting the right to life through the adoption of appropriate measures at both the national and international levels;

4.         Calls upon all States, appropriate United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to take the necessary measures to ensure that the results of scientific and technological progress and the material and intellectual potential of mankind are used for the benefit of mankind and for promoting and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

5.         Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give attention, in its consideration of the item entitled "Human rights and scientific and technological developments", to the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Declaration;

6.         Invites the Commission on Human Rights to assist the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in preparing the study requested by the Commission in its resolutions 1982/4 of 19 February 1982, 1984/29 of 12 March 1984, 1986/11 of 10 March 1986 and 1988/61 of 9 March 1988;

7.         Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fifth session the item entitled "Human rights and scientific and technological developments".