The Future of the Right to Science

Abstract

Abstract This chapter reflects on the status of the human right to science and looks into its future. Arguing that the right has been mostly overlooked in its potential to govern science, technology, and innovation, the chapter proposes ways in which policymakers, scholars, and practitioners can engage with the right to ensure the realization of its full potential. Further work needs to be done to translate right-to-science principles into standards of conduct to guide science, technology, and innovation policy. Additionally, policymakers, scholars, and practitioners must strengthen the monitoring of States’ adherence to the right-to-science standards and ensure opportunities for claims based on the right to science to be adjudicated in court. To this end, constitutional, statutory, and regulatory frameworks must be adapted to better incorporate right-to-science principles. This chapter proposes the negotiation and adoption of a global treaty in support of science. Such a treaty could help entrenching and deepening the normative content of the right to science. A sketch of the content of the proposed treaty is provided. The chapter also identifies future initiatives at the level of regional systems. It concludes by reiterating the value of framing science as a global public good and by inviting the international community to adopt the right to science as the leading framework to govern science, technology, and innovation, internationally and domestically.