Today, particularly in the post-Covid and climate change context, many ongoing conversations focus on the important contribution of science to the realization of human rights and the sustainable development goals. The Special Rapporteur believes that this discussion must be placed in a human rights framework. It is important to reiterate the human rights dimension of science, and to understand access to and participation in science as crucial human rights issues.

In her forthcoming report to the Human Rights Council, she intends to address the right to access and take part in scientific progress. In order to identify relevant experiences and challenges, she prepared a questionnaire (below), which she sent to States, United Nations agencies, national human rights institutions, academics, scientists, cultural workers and practitioners, as well as civil society organizations for their consideration.

The forthcoming report will build on the previous work of the mandate (Report on the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications, A/HRC/20/26, 2012), and of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (General Comment 25 on Science and Economic, Social and Cultural rights, 2020).

Objectives

The Special Rapporteur intends to take stock of setbacks and progress both under international human rights law and in practice regarding access to scientific knowledge and its applications. She plans to focus more on the rather unexplored issue of participation in scientific life, as part of cultural life. Central questions include what participation means, what are possible limits to it, and how to ensure it in ways that complements scientific expertise, in the context of societies that are challenged by misinformation and disinformation. She would also like to reflect more broadly on the definition of science, scientific expertise and exclusionary processes such definitions may entail; on the notion of scientific diversity; on challenges and obstacles to participation; on conditions and best ways to ensure it; as well as on the intrinsic relationship between access and participation. 

Cultural rights protect the rights for each person, individually and in community with others as well as groups of people, to develop and express their humanity, their world view and the meanings they give to their existence and their development through, inter alia, values, beliefs, convictions, languages, knowledge and the arts, institutions and ways of life. They are also considered as protecting access to cultural heritage and resources that allow such identification and development processes to take place.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

• Download the questionnaire (Word):
  English | Français | Español

Please select and answer the questions most relevant for your organization / entity. Kindly limit your responses to 3,000 words and attach annexes where necessary.

To facilitate their consideration, please send responses in a Word document, and in English, French or Spanish.

Please clearly specify the entity making the contribution on the document itself and add paragraph numbers.

All submissions will be posted on the OHCHR website.