VIII World Conference on Bioethics

Under the Presidency of Honor of Their Majesties the King and the Queen of Spain, this international conference will gather experts, scientists, researchers and professors from all over the world. <br /><br />During four days, participants will hold discussions and exchange of views on various subjects such as the universality of Bioethics, the limits of the development and production of biological weapons, the global consequences of the UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights adopted by UNESCO in 2005, as well as the issue of law, society and awareness facing the weakness of borders. <br /><br />They will also debate on the reflection of bioethics in the European context, the ethics of science and technology for development and many other crucial issues that are related directly or indirectly to our daily life.<br /><br />During the opening ceremony of this VIII World Congress of Bioethics, the floor will be given to Ms. Pilar Alvarez-Laso, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, while the responsible of the UNESCO’s Bioethics Programme, Ms. Dafna Feinholz, will be one of the speakers at the closure session.<br /><br />In this year 2013 which marks the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO’s Programme on Bioethics and the creation of the International Bioethics Committee (IBC), both of them should remind that the scientific research and the advances it brings can be a key driver of development, but, if the ethical perspective is not taken into account at the same time as the epistemological and methodological considerations, it may not only lead to abuses of human rights, but also to inequality in economic and social development between and within countries. <br /><br />Several members of the UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC), who, for some, are also Members of the SIBI’s Scientific Committee, will also attend the Conference as the Prof. Stefano Semplici, President of the IBC, and the Prof. Volnei Garrafa, Members of the IBC.