Human rights and scientific and technological developments.

1988/60. Human rights and scientific and technological developments

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 Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States and the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic order, Recalling further the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security, the Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind, the Declaration on the Preparation of Societies for Life in Peace, the Declaration on the Prevention of Nuclear Catastrophe and the Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace, 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, as the most monstrous crime against peoples and as a violation of the foremost human right - the right to life, Noting General Assembly resolutions 37/189 A and B of 18 December 1982, 38/113 of 16 December 1983, 40/111 of 13 December 1985 and 42/99 of 7 December 1987, and recalling its own resolutions 1982/7 of 19 February 1982, 1983/43 of 9 March 1983, 1984/28 of 12 March 1984 and 1986/10 of 10 March 1986, 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, 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, Conscious that peoples want to live in a better and more equitable world based on recognition of the priority of the values common to all mankind, 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 that thoughts of war appear in the minds of people and that it is therefore essential to make people increasingly aware of the ideals of peace, Convinced of the need to intensify efforts to foster the spirit of mutual respect, understanding and confidence and to combat attempts to incite enmity, hatred and intolerance and to impose "enemy image" stereotypes, Convinced also that all the rights and freedoms, as well as the material and spiritual wealth that both man and nations possess, have a common foundation - the right to life and to a secure future in peace and freedom, Conscious that the widening availability of technology and scientific and technical advances, bringing new possibilities for peaceful and productive enterprise, open new perspectives for the progress of civilization and provide increasing opportunities to better the conditions of life of peoples and nations, but at the same time present new dangers if used for the creation of new types of deadly weapons, which are already able to transform an armed conflict from human tragedy to human annihilation, 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, Reaffirming the inherent right to life,

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 United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to take the necessary measures to ensure that the results of scientific and technological progress, the material and intellectual potential of mankind, are used to solve global problems 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. Stresses that a world without nuclear weapons and violence would open vast opportunities for the joint efforts of all nations aimed at solving urgent humanitarian problems and at co-operating in the areas of science, education, medicine, arts and others, thus guaranteeing the necessary conditions for the harmonious development of the individual;

7. 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;

8. Emphasizes the importance of overcoming prejudices based on intolerance, hatred and "enemy image" stereotypes;

9. Calls upon Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the public in all countries to intensify their efforts with a view to strengthening mutual understanding and trust in relations among peoples and States and educating people in the spirit of peace, humanism and respect for the values common to all mankind;

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

11. Decides to consider this question at its forty-sixth session under the agenda item "Human rights and scientific and technological developments".

54th meeting
9 March 1988
[Adopted by a roll-call vote of 30 to 9, with
4 abstentions. See chap. XV.]