UNESCO and Global Bioethics

Henk ten Have, MD PhD,

Director, Division of Ethics of Science and Technology

United Nations

Educational,

Scientific and

Cultural

Organization

Established Nov.1945

Hdq. Paris, France

Rotterdam

7 July 2009

Why ethics in an intergovernmental setting?

ETHICS AND UNESCO

1970 UNESCO first reflection on ethics of life sciences

1993 Start bioethics program with International Bioethics Committee (IBC)

- 36 independent experts designated by DG

1998 Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC)

- 36 member states of UNESCO elected by GC

1998 Expansion of program with ethics of scientific knowledge and technology

-World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST)

2002 Inter-agency Committee on Bioethics

bioethics

science ethics

environmental ethics

space ethics

UNESCO Ethics of Science and TechnologyMediate between scientific expertise and Mediate between scientific expertise and policy-making (research-policy linking)policy-making (research-policy linking)

nanotechnology ethics

Political Political decision decision making making regarding regarding ethical ethical issues issues in the in the Member Member StatesStates

Standard-setting actionsStandard-setting actions

Capacity buildingCapacity building

Awareness raisingAwareness raising

bioethics

science ethics

environmental ethics

space ethics

UNESCO Ethics of Science and TechnologyMediate between scientific expertise and Mediate between scientific expertise and policy-making (research-policy linking)policy-making (research-policy linking)

nanotechnology ethics

Political Political decision decision making making regarding regarding ethical ethical issues issues in the in the Member Member StatesStates

Standard-setting actionsStandard-setting actions

Capacity buildingCapacity building

Awareness raisingAwareness raisingCOMESTCOMEST

IBCIBC

IGBCIGBC

Inter-agencyInter-agencyComCom

UNESCO Ethics of Science and Technology

sciencescience politicspolitics

Cultural diversityCultural diversity

Geographical representationGeographical representation

LanguagesLanguages

What is bioethics?

Which fundamental principles?

ObjectivityObjectivity

ImpartialityImpartiality

Scientific Scientific rationalityrationality

FeasibilityFeasibility

Political Political reasonablenessreasonableness

Compromise Compromise and negotiationand negotiation

Challenges

1. Ethics infrastructure

a. Ethics committees

b. Ethics teaching

c. Ethical expertise

d. Ethics research

e. (Inter)national cooperation

Challenges

2. Legal and regulatory framework

- Universalism vs cultural diversity

- Ethics vs religion

- Risk of different standards

- Inadequate government action

- no interaction between ethics experts and policy makers

Challenges

3. Western/northern bias of bioethics

- Focus on advanced technologies

- Emphasis on individual decision-making

- Focus on diseases of the rich

- Commercialisation and commodification of health care and science

What can be done in an intergovernmental setting?

• exploring shared values and principles and setting global standards

• enhancing and building capacities in Member States to deal with ethical issues

• increasing public awareness and promoting public debate