UNESCO and EthicsDivision of Ethics of Science and Technology

United Nations

Educational,

Scientific and

Cultural

Organization

Established Nov.1945

Hdq. Paris, France

(BIO)ETHICS & UNESCO

Understanding the current ethical problems in connection with science and technology

education sciencesocial and

humansciences

culturecommunication

andinformation

(BIO)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

theoretical basis of activities

Division of Ethics of Science and Technology

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

standard-setting actions

capacity building

awareness raising

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

Standard-setting actions

COMESTIGBC

Inter-AgencyComm

IBC

Normative instruments

Gen.Conference 1997

Gen.Conference 2003

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

standard-setting actions

Universal Declaration

onbioethics

2005

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

standard-setting actions

Universal Declaration

onbioethics

Code ofConduct

forScientists

20052005; 2007

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

standard-setting actions

Universal Declaration

onbioethics

Code ofConduct

forScientists

Ethical Principles for

use of theenvironment

20052005; 2007 2007; 2009

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

standard-setting actions

Universal Declaration

onbioethics

Code ofConduct

forScientists

Ethical Principles for

use of theenvironment

EthicalPrinciples

forouterspace

20052005; 2007 2007; 2009

2005; 2007

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

capacity building

capacity building

Global Ethics Observatory• Database 1: experts

• Database 2: institutions, organisations, commissions

• Database 3: ethics teaching programmes

• Database 4: legislation and guidelines

GEO

Headquarters: coordination; English + French

Regional databases coherent network

- Vilnius (Russian language)

- Porto Alegre (Spanish and Portuguese)

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

capacity building

Ethics Education Programme- biennium 2004-2005: establishing Latin American and European School of Ethics, creating a pool of experts from various countries

- biennium 2006-2007: other priority areas Asia and Arab region

EEP

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

capacity building

Implementation of instruments- establishing national (bio)ethics committees

- producing resource materials for ethics committees

- providing legal samples and materials

- workshops and training

- developing implementation methodology

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

awareness raising

bioethics science

ethics

environmental ethics

space

ethics

Theoretical basis of activities

awareness raising

Ethics around the World- rotating conferences aiming at:

• Disseminating information

• Interacting and networking with national experts

awareness raising

Ethics around the WorldNetherlands, 18 March 2004

Iran, 2 May 2004

Lithuania, 13 September 2004

Turkey, 15 September 2004

Argentina, 4-5 November 2004

South Korea, 16 November 2004

Mexico, 24 November 2004

Indonesia, 2 December 2005

Philippines, 6 December 2005

Portugal, 6 January 2005

Burundi, February 2005

Morocco, Spring 2005

China, May 2005

Uganda, November 2005

Consultation of national experts on the Universal declaration on bioethics

Ethics teaching

awareness raising

Publications- Information kit on Human Cloning

(available in 6 working languages)

- Book series in Ethics -Vol.1: Environmental Ethics-Vol.2: Ethics and Nanotechnology

- Guidebooks on National (Bio)ethics Committees:

- Guidebook 1: Establishing Biomedical Ethics Committees

( early 2005)

Research- Re-evaluation of (bio)ethics: emphasis on public health, social justice, human rights (special significance of ethical issues for developing countries)

Panama City, Panama: regional network of experts, March 2004

Eilat, Israel: 3rd International Conference in Medical Ethics, March 2004

- New topics for analysis and international regulation: nanotechnology, integrity in scientific research, cognitive sciences

- Ethics, innovative and existing technologies

- Ethics and pain management (University of Shefffield; Economic and Social Research Council, United Kingdom, March 2004)

- Justice through creative technologies (Creighton University, Omaha, USA, April 2004)

- Ethics and anaesthesiology (European Society of Anaesthesiologists, Lisbon, June 2004)

Standards

Declara-tions

Capacity

Ethicscommittes

Legislation/guidelines

Ethicsteaching

Awareness

publications

GEOdatabases

Rotatingconferences

OUTCOMES

• platforms for ethical action

• intensive public debate

• informed public opinion

• (inter)national normative frameworks

• morally sensitized professionals and scientists

• assisted policy-making

A summary view of ethics activities in a coherent framework

ETHICS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Our website:

www.unesco.org/shs/ethics