Engineering for Human Rights

The Theory and Practice of a Human Rights-based Approach to Engineering

Dados Bibliográficos

ID5337102
AutoresDavis Chacon-Hurtado (0000-0001-5722-3545, University of Connecticut, autor correspondente), Kazem Kazerounian (0009-0004-7115-0070, University of Connecticut), Shareen Hertel (0000-0003-3975-3598, Political Science & Human Rights, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA), Jonathan Mellor (0000-0002-9270-0690, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Jack J Barry (0000-0001-6063-0037, University of Florida), Tulasi Ravindran (Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA)
Ano2024
Volume49
Fascículo4
Páginas898-934
Data de publicação2024-07-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoScience Technology & Human Values (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0162-2439 • E-ISSN: 1552-8251
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/01622439231211112
OpenAlexW4389152208
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas51

The welfare of society and the relationship between people and the natural environment are all directly impacted by engineering work, and codes of ethics are central to the profession. Yet many engineers struggle to incorporate these principles into their daily work because such codes typically emphasize professional conduct without reflecting on the role of engineering within such complex social and environmental systems. In this paper, we propose a human rights-based approach to engineering anchored in five core principles of distributive justice, broad participation, explicit consideration of duty-bearers, accountability for all actors involved, and indivisibility of rights. This is a new paradigm that draws on universal principles to shape individual ethical obligations and the norms of the profession to prevent risk, enhance access to the benefits of technology, and redress social and environmental harms resulting from engineered products or processes. This paradigm could transform both university education and professional practice by harmonizing existing engineering ethics with core human rights obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights

Accountability · Duty · Engineering ethics · Environmental ethics · Ethical code · Human rights · Law and economics · Political science · Redress · Sociology · Engineering · Environmental law and policy · Ethics in medical practice · Human Rights and Development · Law