Bioethics

Bioethics
Stem cell research, genetic testing, cloning: progress in the life sciences is giving human beings new power to improve our health and control the development processes of all living species. Concerns about the social, cultural, legal and ethical implications of such progress have led to one of the most significant debates of the past century. A new word has been coined to encompass these concerns: bioethics.

International Bioethics Committee (IBC):

The 16th session of the International Bioethics Committee will be held in Mexico City (Mexico) from 23 to 25 November 2009
Work programme of IBC for 2008-2009
New composition of IBC [PDF]

Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC):

Sessions

European Commission-UNESCO Conference: Joint Action for Capacity-building in Bioethics (JACOB), Mexico City, Mexico, 26-28 November 2009

More about Bioethics

Since the 1970s, UNESCO's involvement in the field of bioethics has reflected the international dimensions of this debate. Founded on the belief that there can be no peace without the intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind, UNESCO tries to involve all countries in this international and transcultural discussion.

The UNESCO Bioethics Programme was created in 1993. Bioethics belongs to ethics of science and technology, one of the five principal priorities of UNESCO. The first major success of the Bioethics Programme occurred in 1997, when the General Conference adopted the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, the only international instrument in the field of bioethics, which was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1998.

UNESCO's ethical watch mandate justifies itself day by day and is becoming increasingly necessary in light of recent scientific developments and their far-reaching implications for society. With its standard-setting work and unique multicultural and multidisciplinary intellectual forums, the Programme has confirmed UNESCO’s leading role in bioethics at the international level.

The Bioethics Programme is part of UNESCO’s Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology in the Social and Human Sciences Sector. It is primarily responsible for the Secretariat of two advisory bodies: the International Bioethics Committee (IBC), composed of 36 independent experts, and the Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC), composed of representatives of 36 Member States. These Committees cooperate to produce advice, recommendations and proposals that each submits to the Director-General for consideration by UNESCO’s governing bodies.

The Programme develops four main action areas:

News

UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC) to meet in Mexico City 2009-10-28 9:00 pm UNESCO
The Sixteenth Session of UNESCO's International Bioethics Committee (IBC) will take place in Mexico City (Mexico) from 23 to 25 November 2009. Organized in cooperation with the Consejo Consultivo de Ciencias of the Presidency of Mexico, it will be followed by a European Commission-UNESCO conference of experts and members of national bioethics committees from around the world from 26 to 28 November. Initially planned for last May, the two meetings were postponed due to the A(H1N1) flu epidemic.

El Salvador establishes National Bioethics Commission 2009-08-10 9:00 am UNESCO
The Republic of El Salvador has established a National Bioethics Commission. The Commission has been created by decree of the Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance.

Just published: "Report of UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee on consent" 2008-12-05 1:00 pm
The Report of UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC) has just been published as the first issue of a new series. The latter intends to effectively and broadly disseminate IBC’s reflection and deliberations on specific principles of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005). Thus, it aims to foster reflection and facilitate action of stakeholders concerned.



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