UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights. Roma, Italy

Third International Workshop and Conference on “Human Rights and Multiculturalism”

Article 12 of the UNESCO Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005) states: “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.”

During the 2011 Rome workshop focused on the Principle of Vulnerability of the aforementioned declaration, it soon became clear that with so many different religious traditions, many conceptual problems were unresolved.  The East-West contrast was particularly strong with regards to human rights.  Many participants of the workshop find the human rights language too individualistic.  This is somewhat foreign to major religions where the self does not exist in isolation, but is normally immersed in a web of relations—family, friends, religious community, and society.

The emphasis on human rights was critiqued as predominantly a Western liberal ideal, which in bioethics is translated to mean patient autonomy and free choice.  Eastern religions tend to focus more on duties than on rights.  This is not to say that individual rights are unimportant.  In today’s democratic societies, laws have been drafted to protect individuals and communities against slavery, discrimination, torture or genocide.  Yet, it appears unclear at what moment universal rights supersede respect for cultural diversity and pluralism.  Some of the bioethics experts are still uncertain about the existence of universal rights and what they consists.

This workshop will focus on human rights and duties as they affect the life sciences, healthcare and the appropriate use of technology in these fields. The subjects involved in these issues are primarily researchers and physicians as well as patients and research subjects. Knowledge, respect, recognition and guarantee of the rights of these individuals and their corresponding duties will be analyzed from multicultural and different religious perspectives.

This meeting will consist in a two-day workshop where bioethics experts from Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism will gather to discuss the meaning and implications of these issues.  The third day would be an open conference for the public. The collection of these papers will result in the publication of a book.

See program

From left to right: Thomas Nickel, Albert Ramon, Alberto Garcia and Thomas Otto

In accordance with the mission of creating an appropriate framework to guide the implementation of ethical principles, Professor Alberto Garcia, Director of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights with its headquarter in Rome, Italy, has signed a document that guarantees an International Code of Ethics.This statement was taken up by two leading European research centers in adult stem cells: ITERA and ITERM. Both ITERM (Institute of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine) and ITERA (International Tissue Engineering Research Association) have proposed this international Code of Ethics for all institutions that are part of those agencies. This Code is in line with the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights of UNESCO (2006).

The signatories are ITERA's President, Prof.  Albert  Ramon and Prof. Thomas Otto of ITERM.

History of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights

On May 28, 2009, the Director-General of the UNESCO signed the agreement for the establishment of the UNESCO Chair.  The rectors of the two universities which submitted the proposal for the founding of the UNESCO Chair, Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum and the Università Europea di Roma, signed the agreement on July 7, 2009. During this past year, there has been constant communication with officials of the Italian Commission.

Alberto Garcia currently directs the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights under the auspices of Institute of Bioethics and Human Rights.  A Board of Director has been formally established and had several meetings.  At present, three fellows collaborate with the Chair in the areas of Neurobioethics, Bioethics and Mass Media, and Bioethics, Multiculturalism and Religion.

The Neurobioethics Group published their first article, "Consciousness and the end of life issues: a multi and interdisciplinary proposal by the Neurobioetica Research and Study Group in Rome" in the Proceedings of the Conference of the National Forensic and Legal Medicine  Association, Ancona, Italy (September 29th - October 2nd). The authors of this article are: R. Amante V.A., Amodio G., Chieragatti P., Ciadamidaro, M. Farisco, A. Garcia, A. Gini, R. Luna, M.A. Mangione, P.R. Pascual, L.C., A. Soddu.

Italian title: R. Amante V.A., Amodio G., Chieragatti P., Ciadamidaro, M. Farisco, A. Garcia, A. Gini, R. Luna, M.A. Mangione, P.R. Pascual, L.C., A. Soddu, "La Coscienza e le cosiddette Questioni di “Fine Vita”: l’approccio multi e interdisciplinare proposto dal Gruppo di Neurobioetica," ATTI DEL CONGRESSO NAZIONALE DI MEDICINA LEGALE, Ancona, 29 settembre - 2 ottobre 2009

Global Values Made Visible:  The UNESCO Global Art Exhibit Unveiled in the UN Headquarters Gives a Human Face to Abstract Concepts

Michael Baggot

UNESCO Chair Correspondent

“How would you create an image of respect for vulnerable people?”

Those gathered at the General Assembly entrance of the United Nations Headquarters Building the evening of October 3 found breathtaking artistic responses to this question during the unveiling ceremony of the eleven winning pieces of the UNESCO Chair of Bioethics and Human Rights Global Art Competition.

“As I survey this exhibit and its call for artists to create art that deepens the appreciation for human life, I am reminded of a quote by G.K. Chesterton, who stated, ‘Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere,’” stated the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Archbishop Francis Chullikatt .