Taking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as an opportunity, Volker Türk United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Geneva, Switzerland, shares his personal view on how the ‘right to science’ is essential to the survival of the human species. His article on this issue was published on November 1, 2023, in Nature World View.
Türk reminds us that “human rights exist to empower people, protect their lives and dignity, and curb humanity’s worst impulses.” Article 27 of the Declaration explicitly mentions science: “everyone has the right…to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.” However, he continues to explain that this right is currently more in danger than ever before with policymakers and industry alike disregarding science and manufacturing doubt by biased ‘experts.’
The UN commissioner provides six steps to ensure that the human right to benefit from science leads to the progression of all human rights:
- Scientific research needs an environment protective against attacks, threats, and harassment.
- Monitoring and enforcement of conflict-of-interest laws must guarantee the disclosure of all commercial and institutional ties.
- Climate change research should be funded in an appropriate way to its existential threat.
- A wide range of people need to be involved including those historically denied the right to benefit from science such as women, children, indigenous people, and those living in poverty.
- Education is a basic means to protect the environment.
- Through international cooperation, societies must make sure that all countries have access to sustainable technologies.
Türk concludes that “human rights are not simply laws or an ideology — they are the key to survival of our species” and our planet can be safeguarded now and for the generations to come by taking them seriously.
Reference
Türk, V. (2023). “Protect the ‘right to science’ for people and the planet.” Nature World View. DOI: 10.1126/science.adk9846
