Right to science

The Right to Science is recognised and protected as a fundamental human right. It is enshrined in art. 27 of the 1948 Universal declaration of Human Rights and in art. 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The Right to Science encompasses a broad range of activities, from the right of scientists to freely pursue scientific research to the right of health care professionals to effectively accomplish their role in spreading the benefits of science, from the right of patients to access those benefits to the right to access scientific information, knowledge and the means to develop it. Limitations of the Right to Science have a direct impact on the protection of personal dignity (UDHR, art.22), well-being (art.25) and education (art.26), with consequences that spread to economic stagnation, poverty, social exclusion, and discrimination.