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

 

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Human rights and use of scientific and technological developments

  The General Assembly, 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, and the Declaration on the Prevention of Nuclear Catastrophe, 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, Recalling its appeal 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, Taking note with appreciation of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1982/7 of 19 February 1982, 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,

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 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, appropriate organs of the United Nations, 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;

5. 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;

6. Looks forward to further efforts by the Commission on Human Rights with a view to ensuring the inherent right of all peoples and all individuals to life;

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