During its 64th session, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights held a day of general discussion on article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications and on other provisions of article 15 on the relationship between science and economic, social and cultural rights.

The discussion day in Geneva on 9 October 2018 was part of a consultative process in the context of the drafting of a general comment on the article. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights prepared a draft general comment on science and requested input from a wide range of stakeholders, including States parties.

Summary

The intense and rapid development of science and technology has had many benefits for the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. At the same time, the risks – and the unequal distribution of these benefits and risks – have prompted a rich and growing discussion on the relationship between science and economic, social and cultural rights.

Several important documents have been issued on this subject, such as the Venice Statement on the Right to Enjoy the Benefits of Scientific Progress and its Applications, adopted in 2009, the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2005, the Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers, adopted by UNESCO in 2017, the report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights on the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications (A/HRC/20/26) and the Committee’s general comment No. 17 (2005) on the right of everyone to benefit from the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he or she is the author.

In spite of these developments, science is one of the areas of the Covenant to which States parties give least attention in their reports and dialogues with the Committee. This has led the Committee, after a wide consultative process, to develop this general comment on the relationship between science and economic, social and cultural rights.

Documentation

• Discussion paper
• Draft general comment in English