Event:16th Session of the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO

September 9, 2009

16th Session of the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO

Further to its postponement for health reasons related to the A(H1N1) influenza epidemic in Mexico City, the Sixteenth (ordinary) Session of the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO (IBC) (initially scheduled in May 2009) will now be held in Mexico City, from 23 to 25 November 2009.

Created in 1993, IBC is a body of 36 independent experts – appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO in their personal capacity – that follows progress in the life sciences and its applications in order to ensure respect for human dignity and freedom.

As initially scheduled, two main topics will be discussed during this session:  the principle of social responsibility and health as set forth in Article 14 of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005) and the issue ofhuman cloning and international governance.  IBC will finalize its work on article 14 of the Declaration and will hold a first reflection on the follow up to be given to its Report on Human Cloning and International Governance.

Moreover, since the session will take place in the Latin American and Caribbean region, an entire day will be devoted to“Bioethics in Latin America and the Caribbean:  Experiences and perspectives”.  The working session will focus on the following themes:

• Bioethical debate and public awareness: Latin American perspective
• Legislative measures in Latin America and the Caribbean:  which implementation for the UNESCO Declarations in the field of bioethics?
• Bioethics education:  experiences in Latin America and the Caribbean
• National bioethics committees in Latin America and the Caribbean: challenges and perspectives.

Finally IBC will finalize its work programme for 2010-2011 and will elect its new Bureau.

The sessions are open to the public. The working languages will be English and French. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in these languages as well as in Spanish.

There is no registration fee.  However, as is customary, the travel and living expenses of observers will be borne by them or by the Organization they represent.

If you wish to participate in this meeting as an observer, please go to the following website: www.unesco.org/bioethics and fill out the registration form which should be returned, duly completed, to the IBC Secretariat (by surface mail: Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology, 1 rue Miollis – 75015 Paris; or by fax: + 33 1 45 68 55 15; or by e-mail: [email protected]),before 18 November 2009.

Further information and working documents are available on the above-mentioned website and upon request from:

IBC Secretariat
Division of Ethics of Science and Technology

UNESCO
1, rue Miollis
75732 Paris Cedex 15 – France
Telephone: + 33 1 45 68 44 28 /38 03
Fax: + 33 1 45 68 55 15
E-mail: [email protected]