CHAPTER 2: HARMONIZING HUMAN RIGHTS AND BIOETHICS: A COROLLARY TO GLOBALIZATION OR A COMPLIANCE TO CULTURAL IDENTITIES?

Abstract

With the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international law provides an effective reference source beyond the law of the States. This law has two specific characteristics. In the first place it is as much a law in relation with new techno-logies as a law of principles because it applies the principles in the light of the diversity of scientific practices. Secondly, these technologies are at their most active in the field of globalization and support some standardization of practices.

When the first character deals with power and standardization of scientific practices, the second  the normative aspect recognizes the cultural and professional dimension of technoscience. In both cases, the diffusion and integration of science and technologies in society is a global phenomenon, exceeding the sphere of local cultures and laws.