The right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits

The right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits firstly took place in American Declaration of The Rights and Duties of Man. The drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights inspired by this; and they included this right in the Universal Declaration. The struggles for including the rights and freedoms in the Universal Declaration into a binding instrument, resulted in two international covenants. One of them regulates civil and political rights while the other one regulates economic, social and cultural rights. 15th article of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights guarantees that everyone has the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications. Consequently, this right is recognized by State Parties to the Covenant. However the right has been neglected by United Nations and the doctrine, and its normative content has remained ambiguous until recently. The unrestrained expansion of intellectual property regimes and its violation of human rights has lately required this right to be emphasized. This right has been considered to play an effective role in the conciliation of intellectual property and human rights as well as other economic tools. The right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits has two main elements. First one is everyone's right to participate in scientific progress; freedom of science is indispensable for this right to be realized. Second and distinctive element is the right to enjoy scientific progress; everyone has the right to enjoy applications of science. The access to all medical and technological products which are necessary for a life with dignity must be possible. The realization of the right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits is crucial to ensure that all kind of resources are equally distributed worldwide.