Transcript AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition Joint Initiative: “Article 15” Jessica Wyndham, Project Director Project Director, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program January 21, 2010

AAAS Science and Human Rights
Coalition
Joint Initiative: “Article 15”
Jessica Wyndham, Project Director
Project Director, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program
January 21, 2010
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Outline
 What is the Joint Initiative?
 What is Article 15?
 How can scientists contribute?
 What can the Coalition achieve?
 How will we proceed?
Science and Human Rights Coalition
What is the Joint Initiative?
Science and Human Rights Coalition
The Joint Initiative is…
… an overarching initiative that engages the
full membership.
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Selection Criteria
(1) Lies at the nexus of science and human rights
(2) Cannot be accomplished without the scientific
community
(3) Has direct relevance for each of the Coalition’s five
areas of activity
Science and Human Rights Coalition
The focus of the Joint Initiative is…
… the right to “enjoy the benefits of scientific
progress and its applications”
(Article 15, International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights)
Science and Human Rights Coalition
What is Article 15?
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Article 15, International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights
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.
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Evolution of the right to science
194
8
American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man
“Right to participate in the benefits that result from
intellectual progress, especially scientific discoveries”
(Article 13)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
194
8
“Right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits”
(Article 27)
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
196
6
“Right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its
applications” (Article 15)
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Broad acceptance of the right
International declarations and resolutions:
bioethics (2005); human genetic data (2003);
environment (2003); scientific progress (1994)
Regional treaties and declarations:
Europe: biomedicine (1997); Americas: economic,
social and cultural rights (1988); human rights (1948)
National constitutions:
Armenia (1995); Moldova (1994); Paraguay (1992)
Among others…
Science and Human Rights Coalition
What does the right mean?
Science and Human Rights Coalition
The UNESCO Process
Process:
three experts’ meetings over two years
involving approximately 40 participants
Purpose:
to launch a process of research and dialogue
on the content of this right
Participants:
lawyers, academics, medical ethicists, human
rights practitioners, UN experts, AAAS
Science and Human Rights Coalition
A general description:
 removing barriers to the equitable dissemination of
the fruits of scientific research with particular focus
on vulnerable and marginalized groups
 public investment in research and development,
 the freedom of scientists to engage in scientific
inquiry while also conducting their work responsibly,
and
 fostering international cooperation in science.
See the Venice Statement for further details
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Explicit implementation of right: examples
Constitutional:

incorporation of the right in domestic constitution
Legislative:

protecting scientific freedom

supporting scientific associations or societies
Judicial:

regulating practices within the pharmaceutical industry
Funding:

support for research in identified areas of societal need
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Implicit implementation of the right: examples
 Brazil: improving access to HIV/AIDS treatment
 Burundi: partnering with industry for health and education
 United Kingdom: protecting scientific freedom and researchers
 UNITAID: international cooperation for public health
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Implicit implementation of the right: United States

Priority review vouchers:
- encouraging research into neglected diseases

Open access: National Institutes of Health
- providing access to scientific findings

Funding criteria: National Science Foundation
- assessing ‘broader impacts’ of R&D

Foreign policy:
- promoting unfettered internet access
Science and Human Rights Coalition
How can scientists contribute?
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Venice Statement
17. “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.”
Science and Human Rights Coalition
A unique role for scientists
 Participate in the process of elucidation
 Identify barriers to realization of the right
 Design scientifically rigorous mechanisms for monitoring
compliance
 Comply with the right in your work
 Refer to the right explicitly as appropriate
 And more…
Science and Human Rights Coalition
What can the Coalition achieve?
Science and Human Rights Coalition
What can the Coalition achieve?

Raise awareness among scientific organizations
newsletters, Annual Meeting sessions, trainings

Engage scientific community in elucidation of right
focus groups, experts meetings

Inform efforts of the human rights community
monitoring and implementation of the right

Bring voice to policy issues of relevance to the right

Contribute to global scientific effort to implement the right
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Objectives

Knowledge among scientific organizations of the
existence, significance and potential application of
this right

Engagement of scientific organizations in efforts to
help realize this right

Leveraging of this human right to accomplish the
objectives of the areas of activity
AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition
Plan of Action 2009-2011
Science and Human Rights Coalition
How will we proceed?
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Plan of Action: An Overview
2009: - Develop materials introducing “Article 15” to members
- Hold training sessions on “Article 15” for new members
- Design overall initiative
2011: - Working groups present to the UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights
- Hold major event in Geneva or New York
Science and Human Rights Coalition
2010 (first half): design overall initiative
 Develop projects to be completed by each area of
activity working group
 Establish benchmarks
2010 (second half): start implementation!
Science and Human Rights Coalition
Ideas so far…
 Develop primer for scientific community on the right
 Engage multiple disciplines in identifying the
relevance of the right to their field
 Identify barriers to scientific freedom, in the US and
abroad
 Design indicators to measure compliance with the
right
 Identify relationship between the right and science
ethics: points of agreement, conflict and gaps