Abstract
In the 20 years since the establishment of the International Bioethics Committee (IBC), UNESCO has become a key interlocutor on bioethics through its three declarations and the Ethics Education Programme, all of which bear the hallmarks of a multidisciplinary and pluralist approach that seeks to balance universal and contextual considerations. Over the next 20 years, the IBC must continue to ensure that scientific and technological advances do not exacerbate human vulnerability, particularly in resource-poor countries. Issues such as the trafficking of human organs and tissue, the migration of health workers, and the dangers of counterfeit medicines should be considered with a view to making practical recommendations. Support for bioethics committees and bioethics education in developing countries must remain a priority, and the governments of Member States must be involved in this process to ensure its sustainability.
An early draft of this article was presented in the UNESCO Symposium, “The role of UNESCO in bioethics for the next 20 years symposium”, in Paris on September 6, 2013.
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Notes
- 1.
Article 12 of the Universal Declaration - -> on Bioethics and Human Right - -> s: “The importance of cultural diversity and pluralism should be given due regard. However, such considerations are not to be invoked to infringe upon human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms, nor upon the principles set out in this Declaration, nor to limit their scope”.
- 2.
Article 8 of the 2005 Universal Declaration - -> on Bioethics and Human Right - -> s: “In applying and advancing scientific knowledge, medical practice and associated technologies, human vulnerability should be taken into account. Individuals and groups of special vulnerability should be protected and the personal integrity of such individuals respected.”
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Guessous, N. (2016). Twenty Years of the International Bioethics Committee: Achievements and Future Priorities. In: Bagheri, A., Moreno, J., Semplici, S. (eds) Global Bioethics: The Impact of the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee. Advancing Global Bioethics, vol 5. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22650-7_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22650-7_3
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