Human rights and scientific and technological developments.

1982/7. Human rights and scientific and technological developments[1]25

The Commission on Human Rights, Reaffirming the determination of the peoples of the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the human person, to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among peoples and international co-operation in promoting and encouraging universal respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms, Reaffirming the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,[2]26 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,[3]27 article 6 of which states that "every human being has the inherent right to life", Recalling its resolution 5 (XXXII) of 27 February 1976. Recalling the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security of 16 December 1970,[4]28 the Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind of 10 November 1975,[5]29 the Declaration on the Preparation of Societies for Life in Peace of 15 December 1978[6]30 and the Declaration on the Prevention of Nuclear Catastrophe of 9 December 1981,[7]31 Recalling also the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States[8]32 and the Declaration[9]33 and Programme of Action[10]34 on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order of 1 May 1974, Reaffirming once again the inherent right of all peoples and all individuals to life, Deeply concerned that international peace and security continues to be threatened by the arms race, particularly the nuclear arms race in all its aspects, as well as by violations of the Principles of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and self-determination of peoples, Aware that all the horrors of past wars and all other calamities that have befallen people would pale in comparison with what is inherent in the use of nuclear weapons capable of destroying civilization on earth, Alarmed by the threat to the survival of mankind and to the life-sustaining system posed by nuclear weapons and by their use, Recalling the historic responsibility of the Governments of all countries of the world to remove the threat of war from the lives of people, to preserve civilization and ensure that everyone enjoys his inherent right to life, Convinced that for no people in the world today is there a more important question than that of the preservation of peace and of ensuring the cardinal right of every human being, namely, the right to life,

1. Expresses its firm conviction that all peoples and all individuals have an inherent right to life, and that the safeguarding of this foremost right is an essential condition for the enjoyment of the entire range of economic, social and cultural, as well as civil and political rights;

2. Stresses the urgent need for all possible efforts by the international community to strengthen peace, remove the threat of war, particularly nuclear war, halt the arms race and achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international control, thus contributing to assuring the right to life;

3. Calls upon all States to take the necessary measures to ensure that the results of scientific and technical progress are used exclusively in the interests of international peace and for the benefit of mankind and for promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion;

4. Decides in its future activities to stress the need to ensure the cardinal right of everyone to life;

5. Requests the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities t carry out a study on the negative consequences of the arms race, particularly the nuclear arms race in all its aspects, for the implementation of economic, social, cultural as well as civil and political rights, the establishment of the new international economic order and, above all, of the inherent right to life, and to submit that study for consideration by the Commission at its fortieth session at its fortieth session;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to bring this resolution to the attention of the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other United Nations bodies concerned with disarmament matters.



[1]25 Adopted at the 29th meeting on 19 February 1982, by a roll-call vote of 32 to none, with 11 abstentions. See chap. XIII. [2]26 General Assembly resolution 217 A (III). [3]27 General Assembly resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. [4]28 General Assembly resolution 2734 (XXV). [5]29 General Assembly resolution 3384 (XXX). [6]30 General Assembly resolution 33/73 . [7]31 General Assembly resolution 36/100 . [8]32 General Assembly resolution 3281 (XXIX). [9]33 General Assembly resolution 3201 (S-VI). [10]34 General Assembly resolution 3202 (S-VI).
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