This article discusses benefits and challenges in engaging engineers in connecting engineering and human rights. Engineers have a vital role to play in giving visibility to human rights, particularly in matters relevant to their field or discipline. Academic instruction in ethics is increasingly viewed as integral to a rigorous educational program in science or engineering. The Science and Human Rights Coalition of the American Association for the Advancement of Science is one network of professional societies that recognize a role for scientists and engineers in human rights. An important way in which engineers can protect and promote human rights is by ensuring that the products they develop benefit people in need. Engineers have human rights that need to be respected in order for the engineering enterprise to flourish and the benefits of engineering to be broadly enjoyed. Engineers have opportunities to contribute to human rights compliance when designing and implementing projects, and to contribute to the realization of the right to benefit from scientific progress and its applications.

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Topics:
Design, Engineers

Where to Find More: Resources for information on engineering, human rights, and development are available online. Websites of organizations mentioned in this article include:

1.
The Science and Human Rights Coalition of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, srhrl.aaas. org/coalition.
2.
Information on the AAAS and science as a human right (Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) can be found at srhrl.aaas.org/Programs/program_article15.htm.
3.
Engineers Without Borders, ewb-international.org/ .
4.
Engineering for Change, www.engineeringforchange.org.
Some of the information in this article is derived from the following sources
1.
“RAISE-ing the bar on research ethics” by B. Chajes (October 24, 2011). Available at: http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2012/oct/raise-research-ethics-102411.html.
2.
“Science Magazine Prize Goes to Rice University Global Health Technologies Course” by M. Jarvis (April 30, 2012). Available at: http://www.eurekalert. org/pub_releases/2012-04/aaft-mp042012.php.
3.
“A Human Rights Challenge to the Engineering Profession: Ethical Dimensions and Leadership Opportunities in Professional Formation” by
D.R.
Lynch
 (
2004
). Available at: http://www.engsc.ac.uk/global-dimension/a-human-rights-challenge-to-the-engineering-profession.
4.
“Engineering, Social Justice, and Sustainable Community Development: Summary of a Workshop,” Advisory Group for the Center for Engineering, Ethics, and Society: National Academy of Engineering (2010), p.40.
5.
““Facilitating Humanitarian Access to Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Innovation”
by
A.L.
Brewster
,
A.R.
Chapman
, and
S.A.
Hansen
,
Innovation Strategy Today
1
(
3
):
203
-
216
(
2005
).
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