Webinar on UNESCO Initiatives on Bioethics and Human Rights

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Webinar Series on Science, Ethics and Innovation

Advancing Science Diplomacy and South-South Cooperation under the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033)

Lead Organization: UNESCO Office in Pakistan
Partners: Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF)

Science, technology and innovation (STI) are advancing sustainable development while also raising complex ethical, legal and societal challenges, particularly in biology, medicine and the life sciences. Ensuring that scientific progress respects human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms has become an important global priority.

As the United Nations specialized agency with the mandate for sciences, UNESCO promotes responsible science and ethical governance through its Global Ethics Programme and internationally recognized normative instruments, including the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005). UNESCO supports Member States in strengthening bioethics governance through national bioethics committees, ethics education, institutional capacity-building and international
cooperation.

As the inaugural session of the Webinar Series on Science, Ethics and Innovation, organized under the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033), this webinar will promote dialogue, science diplomacy and South-South cooperation while advancing the implementation of UNESCO’s global bioethics framework.

Introduction

The inaugural webinar of the Webinar Series on Science, Ethics and Innovation aims to increase awareness of UNESCO’s global normative instruments and initiatives on bioethics and human rights while promoting dialogue on ethical issues arising from advances in science and technology. Bringing together policymakers, researchers, universities and scientific institutions from across the COMSATS and ECO regions, the webinar will strengthen science diplomacy, knowledge exchange and SouthSouth cooperation in support of sustainable development.

Objectives

The webinar aims to:

• Increase awareness of UNESCO’s normative instruments and initiatives on bioethics and human rights.
• Promote dialogue on ethical governance of science, medicine and the life sciences.
• Share experiences and good practices in bioethics governance and ethics education.
• Strengthen institutional partnerships and South-South cooperation among Member States

Expected Outcomes

The webinar is expected to:

• Improved understanding of UNESCO’s bioethics framework and Global Ethics Programme.
• Enhanced collaboration and knowledge exchange on bioethics and ethical governance.
• Identification of opportunities for joint initiatives, ethics education and capacity development.

Key Themes

The webinar will focus on:

• UNESCO’s Global Ethics Programme
• Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights
• National Bioethics Committees and ethics education
• Emerging ethical issues in life sciences
• Regional cooperation and South-South collaboration

Target Participants

The webinar will bring together participants from across the COMSATS and ECO regions, including:

• Government ministries responsible for science, health and higher education
• National Commissions for UNESCO and National Bioethics Committees
• Universities, research institutions and medical schools
• UNESCO Chairs and Category 1 & 2 Centres
• Scientists, ethicists, policymakers and early-career researchers
• Development partners and UN agencies

Format

• Mode: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Working Language: English

Regional Dimension and South-South Cooperation

The webinar will leverage UNESCO’s normative leadership together with the regional networks of COMSATS and ECOSF to strengthen South-South cooperation on bioethics and ethical governance. It will facilitate the exchange of regional experiences, foster partnerships among Member States and support the implementation of UNESCO’s recommendations, contributing to more inclusive, ethical and resilient science systems.

Guidance to Join Webinar

• Register for the participation in the webinar in advance (See the link on the first page).
• Log in to the webinar at least 5–10 minutes early to resolve any last-minute technical issues and ensure a punctual start.
• Familiarize yourself with the platform’s features. Please note that all participants’ microphone will be muted. The moderator will take comments and questions via Q&A box.
• Ensure your device and internet connection are functioning properly before the session begins.
• Use external speakers for better audio.
• Respect speakers and participants by maintaining a professional and focused environment.
• Keep questions and feedback relevant to the topics being discussed.