Human Rights and Bioethics, C.H.R. res. 1995/82, ESCOR
Supp. (No. 4) at 244, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1995/82 (1995).
The Commission on Human Rights,
Recalling that, according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of
all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace
in the world,
Recalling also the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear
and want, as recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International
Covenants on Human Rights,
Seeking to preserve the dignity and integrity of the human being,
Recalling the right of everyone, as recognized by the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress
and its applications,
Convinced, in accordance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights, of the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and
development of international contacts and cooperation in the scientific field,
Recalling the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, whereby no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical
or scientific experimentation,
Recalling also the Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the role of
health personnel, particularly physicians, in the protection of prisoners and
detainees against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 37/194 of 18 December 1982,
Emphasizing that, under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, States
are obliged to protect children against any form of violence,
Aware of the rapid development of the life sciences and the dangers that
certain practices may pose to the integrity and dignity of the individual,
Seeking to ensure that scientific progress benefits individuals and develops
in a manner respectful of fundamental human rights,
Recalling in this connection its resolutions 1991/45 of 5 March 1991 and
1993/91 of 10 March 1993,
Referring to decision 1994/108 of 19 August 1994 of the Subcommission on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities regarding this question,
Recognizing in this regard the need for international cooperation in order
to ensure that mankind as a whole benefits from the life sciences and to prevent
them from being used for any purpose other than the good of mankind,
Convinced of the need to develop a life sciences ethic at the national
and international levels,
1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General
(E/CN.4/1995/74);
2. Invites Governments, the specialized agencies and other organizations
of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization, and other intergovernmental,
particularly regional, organizations and non-governmental organizations to inform
the Secretary-General of activities being carried out to ensure that the life
sciences develop in a manner respectful of human rights and beneficial to humanity
as a whole;
3. Invites States to inform the Secretary-General of legislative or other
measures taken to this effect, including the possible establishment of national
consultative bodies, with a view to promoting exchanges of experience between
such institutions;
4. Requests the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection
of Minorities, under the agenda item "Human rights and scientific and technological
developments", to consider ways of ensuring that the life sciences develop
in a manner fully respectful of human rights and beneficial to humanity as a whole
and to make recommendations to that effect;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the basis of these
contributions for consideration by the Commission at its fifty-third session.
62nd meeting 8 March 1995
[Adopted without a vote. See chap. XIV.]
