defining the right to benefit from scientific progress
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Defining the Right to Benefit from Scientific Progress. Jessica Wyndham, Senior Project Director AAAS Science and Human Rights Program July 27, 2010. Goal. To engage the scientific community in clarifying the meaning of the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Defining the Right to
Benefit from Scientific Progress
Jessica Wyndham, Senior Project Director
AAAS Science and Human Rights Program
July 27, 2010
To engage the scientific community in clarifying the meaning of the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress.
This phase will end with the presentation of findings to the UN and other relevant stakeholders
Goal
Increase knowledge among scientific associations of the existence, significance and potential applications of the right
Determine the meaning of the right as it applies to the practice and concerns of scientific associations
Leverage this human right to accomplish the objectives of the Coalition’s working groups
Objectives
Premise
The human right to benefit from scientific progress is:
Unknown
Undefined
Unaddressed by the scientific community
What you need to know
Universal Declaration of Human Rights(1948)
“Everyone has the right to … share in scientific advancement and its benefits.”
Article 27 (1)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 27
(1948)
International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights
(1966)
International Covenant on
Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights
Article 15
(1966)
International Bill of Rights
The Right
States shall:1. recognize the right of everyone to (b) enjoy the benefits
of scientific progress and its applications;
2. conserve, develop and diffuse science and culture;
3. respect the freedom indispensable for scientific research and creative activity; and
4. recognize the benefits of international contacts and co-operation in the scientific and cultural fields.
universal: everyone, without exception
inalienable: cannot be waived or taken away
indivisible, interdependent, and inter-related: come as a package
responsibility: governments
This right is:
Nature of government responsibilities
Respect: cannot do anything that will violate a human right
Protect: cannot allow a third party to do anything that will violate a human right
Fulfill: must do what is needed to make sure a human right is enjoyed
Each right requires:
Non-discrimination and equal treatment
Focus on the disadvantaged and vulnerable
Participation and transparency in decision-making
Accountability
Momentum is building:
UNESCO initiated process to define the right
UN Independent Expert is going to bring the right to the UN human rights mechanisms
AAAS Board of Directors adopted a Statement on the right
Scientists are needed
“The comprehensive elucidation of this right, raising awareness of it, its implementation, and the monitoring of its realization require the cooperation and participation of [among others]… the scientific and academic communities.”
-- Venice Statement (2009), para. 17)
“Recognizing that this right lies at the heart of the AAAS mission … AAAS will pursue opportunities to collaborate with the global scientific community so that the voice, interests and concerns of scientists can be brought to this process.”
-- AAAS Statement, Board of Directors (2010)
Available resources
AAAS Board of Directors, "On the human right to the benefits of scientific progress," Statement, April 16, 2010
AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition, Joint Initiative Plan of Action (2009-2011)
Chapman, A. (2009), "Towards an Understanding of the Right to Enjoy the Benefits of Scientific Progress and Its Applications," Journal of Human Rights, 8
Claude, Richard P. (2002), “Scientists’ Rights and the Human Rights to the Benefits of Science,” in Chapman, A and Russell, S (eds) (2002), Core Obligations: Building a Framework for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Intersentia
UNESCO, Venice Statement, Experts’ Meeting on the Right to Enjoy the Benefits of Scientific Progress and its Application, Venice, Italy, 16-17 July 2009
Wyndham, Jessica (December 10, 2008), "How can we uphold the right to science?," SciDev.net
http://shr.aaas.org/article15/referencematerials.htm
What we need to know
What we need to know
What would the realization of this right look like for your discipline?
What does the terminology of the right mean in the context of your discipline?
What principles are implicit in the right (e.g., regarding the responsibilities of scientists)?
What are the conceptually challenging questions raised by the right (e.g., dual use research, access vs intellectual property)?
What barriers exist to realizing the right?
How might the right be applied in practice (e.g., by researchers, advocates, clinicians, educators)?
How we can engage the scientific community?
Options for engagement
Raising awareness: newsletter, website
Generating discussion: annual meeting, training sessions, Council/Board presentations
Coalition participation: working group activities
Use the right to inform your work:
when setting funding and research priorities
when designing and assessing research methodologies
Rely on the right explicitly as appropriate:
when addressing governments bound by the right
when advocating for policy change based on law or principle