Human rights and scientific and technological developments.

1983/43. Human rights and scientific and technological developments[1]100

The Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind the determination of the peoples of the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to reaffirm faith in the worth of the human person, to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations and to achieve international co-operation in promoting and encouraging universal respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms, Recalling the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 6 of which provides that every human being has the inherent right to life, Recalling also the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States[2]101 and the Declaration and Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order,[3]102 Recalling further the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security of 16 December 1970,[4]103 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]104 the Declaration on the Preparation of Societies for Life in Peace of 15 December 1978,[6]105 the Declaration on the Prevention of Nuclear Catastrophe of 9 December 1981,[7]106 and General Assembly resolutions 36/92 I of 9 December 1981 on non-use of nuclear weapons and prevention of nuclear war and 37/100 C of 13 December 1982 on a convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons, Noting General Assembly resolution 37/189 of 18 December 1982 and Commission resolutions 5 (XXXII) of 27 February 1976 and 1982/77 of 19 February 1982, Reaffirming the inherent right of all peoples and all individuals to life, Profoundly concerned that international peace and security continues to be threatened by the arms race, particularly the nuclear arms race, 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 and, probably, life on earth, Noting the pressing need for urgent measures towards general and complete disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, Recalling the historic responsibility of the Governments of all countries to remove the threat of war from the lives of people, to prevent nuclear catastrophe, to preserve civilization and to ensure that everyone enjoys his inherent right to life, Bearing in mind that, in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law, Convinced that for people in the world today there is no more important question than that of preserving peace and ensuring the cardinal right of every human being, namely, the right to life, Affirming the particular importance of ensuring that everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of association, and to take part in public affairs, in all matters relating to the right to life,

1. Reaffirms 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 once again the urgent need for the international community to make every effort 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 and prevent violations of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations;

3. Stresses further the foremost importance of the implementation of practical measures of disarmament for releasing substantial additional resources, which should be utilized for social and economic development, particularly for the benefit of the developing countries;

4. Urges all States to ensure that in matters relating to the right to life, everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of association, and to take part in public affairs;

5. Calls upon all States to take effective measures with a view to prohibiting by law any propaganda for war;

6. Again calls upon all States, appropriate organs of the United Nations, specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to ensure that the results of scientific and technological progress are used exclusively in the interests of international peace, for the benefit of mankind and for promoting and encouraging respect for human rights without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion;

7. Decides to consider this matter further at its fortieth session under the agenda item entitled "Human rights and scientific and technological developments".

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[1]100 Adopted at the 54th meeting, on 9 March 1983, by a roll-call vote of 32 to none, with 11 abstentions. See chap. XIII. [2]101 General Assembly resolution 3281 (XXIX). [3]102 General Assembly resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI). [4]103 General Assembly resolution 2734 (XXV). [5]104 General Assembly resolution 3384 (XXX). [6]105 General Assembly resolution 33/73 . [7]106 General Assembly resolution 36/100 .