Human rights and scientific and technological developments.

1986/10. Human rights and scientific and technological developments[1]41

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 the dignity and worth of the human person, to maintain international peace and security and to develop friendly relations among peoples and international co-operation in promoting and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling the relevant 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, Recalling also the Chatter of Economic Rights and Duties of States[2]42 and the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a Now International Economic Order,[3]43 Recalling further the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security,[4]44 the Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind,[5]45 the Declaration on the Preparation of Societies for Life in Peace,[6]46 the Declaration on the Prevention of Nuclear Catastrophe[7]47 and the Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace,[8]48 as well as General Assembly resolutions 36/92 I of 9 December 1981 on the non-use of nuclear weapons and prevention of nuclear war, and 37/100 C of 13 December 1982 and 38/73 G of 15 December 1983 on a convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind that, in its resolution 38/75 of 15 December 1983, the General Assembly resolutely, unconditionally and for all time condemned nuclear war as being contrary to human conscience and reason, an the most monstrous crime against peoples and as a violation of the foremost human right - the tight to life, Noting that the General Assembly has called for the conclusion of an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons with the participation of all the nuclear-weapon States, Noting General Assembly resolutions 37/189 A and B of IS December 1982, 38/113 of 16 December 1983 and 40/111 of 13 December 1985 and its own resolutions 1982/7 of 19 February 1902, 1983/43 of 9 March 1983 and 1984/28 of 12 March 1984, Reaffirming the inherent right to life, Profoundly concerned that international peace and security continue to be threatened by the arms race in all its aspects, particularly the nuclear arms race, as well as by violations of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and the 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, Noting the pressing need for urgent measures towards general and complete disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, for the sake of life on Earth, Bearing in mind that, in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law, 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 to 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, Recalling that the General Assembly in its resolution 40/3 of 24 October 1985 solemnly adopted the Proclamation of the International Year of Peace as a timely impetus for renewed thought and action for the promotion of peace and an opportunity for Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and others to express in practical terms the common aspiration of all peoples for peace, Noting the call of the General Assembly for all peoples to join with the United Nations in resolute efforts to safeguard peace and the future of humanity,

1. Reaffirms that all peoples and all individuals have an inherent right to life and that the safeguarding of this cardinal 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 growing 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 regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and the self-determination of peoples, thus contributing to ensuring the right to life;

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. Calls upon all States to do their utmost to assist in implementing the right to life through the adoption of appropriate measures at both the national and the international level;

5. Calls upon all States, appropriate organs of the United Nations and 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 are used exclusively in the interests of international peace, for the benefit of mankind and for promoting and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

6. Again calls upon all States that have not yet done so to take effective measures with a view to prohibiting any propaganda for war, in particular the formulation, propounding and dissemination of propaganda for doctrines and concepts aimed at unleashing nuclear war;

7. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of the comments and views of Member States, to submit the report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission at its forty-fourth session;

8. Decides to consider this question at its forty-fourth session under the item entitled "Human rights and scientific and technological developments".



[1]41 Adopted at the 50th meeting, on 10 March 1986, by a roll-call vote of 25 to 8, with 9 abstentions. See chap. XV, para. 405. [2]42 General Assembly resolution 3281 (XXIX). [3]43 General Assembly resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI). [4]44 General Assembly resolution 2734 (XXV). [5]45 General Assembly resolution 3384 (XXX). [6]46 General Assembly resolution 33/73 . [7]47 General Assembly resolution 36/100 . [8]48 General Assembly resolution 39/11 .
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