BSC Botany

1. Science, Technology and Human Rights
Science and technology is an inevitable part of our daily life, improving our standard of living
in general. However, at the same time the advances in science and technology raise serious
concerns over its impact on human rights. At its initial stages human rights issues mainly
associated with the basic issues of freedom of thought and expression, right to inherit,
manipulations and abuse of human rights by police and other agencies. Nowadays, with the
ultrafast developments in science and technology, several issues evolved which are believed to
leave lasting imprints on human body, mind, environment and in general in the society as a
whole. The impact of science and technology ranges from the peaceful penetration of
productive technologies to the violent entry of devastating technologies.
As a stepping stone, in 1975 UN made its Declaration on the Use of Scientific and
Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace for the Benefit of Mankind, urging all states
to take appropriate measures to prevent the use of scientific and technological developments to
limit or interfere with the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. To keep in
pace with technological furtherance India made different legislations on sensitive areas, such
as Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, National Organ Transplant Act, 1984,
Environmental Protection Act, 1986, Information Technology Act, 2000. Also the Human
Ethics Committee at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology operates in the framework
prescribed by the Constitution of India as well the guidelines for research on human subjects
set by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Department of Biotechnology.
First we will discuss some of the positive aspects of science and technology in the modern era
in upholding the human rights. The advancement in science and technology has effectively
strengthened the basic human rights such as right to food, right to health, and right to education.
The green solution, high yielding variety of seeds, irrigation facilities and mechanisation
boosted the food production and the white revolution, increase in productivity of milk helped
India to address problems like food scarcity (right to food). The advances in medical and
therapeutic techniques revolutionised the healthcare field, including eradication of some
diseases and in enhancing the life expectancy and in suppressing child mortality rate. Advances
in reproductive techniques enabled many couples to have family with children, while the
development of various birth control techniques is very effective in controlling the world
population so that the countries can provide its citizen a better lifestyle. Better accessibility in

2. terms of transport facilities, communication and availability of information are also some
positive aspects of the growth of science and technology.
Advances in science and technology has revolutionised the education sector also. In fact, the
widespread use of social media helped, to a great extent, in bringing a large number of human
right violations to the public attention. The role of various media in educating people about
their fundamental rights is indisputable. These are only some examples and you can think of
many other positive aspects of science and technology in protecting human rights.
Now coming to the negative aspects of science and technology in human rights, one of the
major fields is the ethical and human rights issues associated with the development in
biotechnology. Human experimentation, foetal experimentation, sale and hire of human organs,
personality test, use of untested drugs, genetic engineering, selective breeding and pre selection
of sex, embryo transplantation, human cloning etc. are always been a subject of discussion.
Side effects of human performance augmenting drugs such as hormones and steroids are
extremely severe. Euthanasia is against the right to life. Narco-analysis test, brain mapping eye
are always under controversy. Genetically modified food involves right to life because
scientists claims that their repercussion are still under surveillance. Right to privacy is under
extreme threat under the new developments in information technology. Internet is also used for
promoting racism, religious hatred, xenophobia, terrorism etc.
Development of various kinds of weapons including nuclear weapons and biological weapons
put the existence of human in jeopardy. One of the worst impact of technological growth is on
environment. Environmental problems such as depletion of ozone, deforestation, acid rains,
desertification, water, air and land pollution, extinction of diverse flora and fauna are by
product of the progress in science and technology.
Advancements in science and technology have so far proved a mixed blessing with respect to
the protection of human rights. For instance, cheaper and more efficient means of
communication which have evolved over the past 20 to 30 years have served to increase the
flow of information across borders of all kinds geographical, political, industrial, and
interpersonal. Thus the right to freedom of expression and, in particular, the right to

3. information is enhanced. However, the same advances in technology that afford human beings
greater access to information also permit government, political parties, and other bureaucrats
to gain even tighter control of that information.
Human Rights which are particularly Affected by Scientific and Technological Progress:
Among the human rights enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Right, the
following rights would seem to be particularly affected by scientific and technological
progress.
• The right to life (Article 3), science (biology, medicine) as well as technology (gene
technology, nuclear technology etc.) can influence birth and death. Controversies regarding
abortion, in vitro fertilization, embryo transplantation, euthanasia techniques, untested drugs.
are examples.
• The right to physical and spiritual integrity (Article 5 stipulates that no one shall be subjected
to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment). Use of Use drug and
other chemical control of the mind, psychological and physical testing methods, and behaviour
therapy are still often used in interrogation
• The right to privacy (Article 12 stipulates that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary
interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour
and reputation. The developments in recording, surveillance devices, personality test, and
other communication techniques based on electronics, Optics, and acoustic as well as new
reproduction techniques, have considerably changed the ways in which privacy could be
protected.
•The right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to information (Article 19)
• the right to work (Article 23) Developments of technologies changed market structures
affecting the night to work.
• The right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his
family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services
(Article 25). Scientific and technological progress can engender new forms of discrimination
in the exercise of this right. Lack of access to medical information can also affect adversely the
right to health.

4. • The right to education (Article 26) Developments in communication and information
technology can promote this right but they can also create new forms of discrimination in
education.
• The right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to
share in scientific advancement and its benefits (Article 27). Scientific and technological
developments do not in themselves guarantee this right, but combined with the reinforcement
of freedom of expression, the right to information and the right to education, this right can be
promoted, thanks to a better communication technology.
Thus, scientific and technological progress can have both negative and positive impacts on
human rights. The effects depend often on the right to information and freedom of expression.
In as much as technological progress produces conditions favourable to disinformation and
cultural indoctrination, the right to information and freedom of expression seems to be a crucial
factor in transforming scientific and technological progress and conditions conducive to a
better respect of human rights