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Transcript of Experience of the Council of Europe Laurence Lwoff Head of Bioethics Division Council of Europe ...
Experience of the Council of
Europe
Laurence LwoffHead of Bioethics Division
Council of Europehttp://www.coe.int/bioethics
Global Challenges, Global OpportunitiesInstitutions of international policy and governanceThe Tarrytown MeetingJuly 25-27, 2011
Council of Europe
Intergovernmental organisations, 1949 47 member states Objectives:
Protection of human rights, democracy and rule of law
Bioethics activities since late 70’s Objective: protection of fundamental rights in the
field of biomedicine 1997: Convention on Human Rights and
Biomedicine (Oviedo Convention)
Oviedo Convention First international legally binding instrument Framework convention: provisions apply to daily medical
practice and specific fields Reference value at national as well at international levels
Re-examination in 2005: no need for changes
Difficulties encountered: Legal standards and evolving field Cultural differences: autonomy vs. social norms Sensitive issues:
research on persons not able to consent, embryo
But agreement on the need for legally binding instrument
Complemented by additional protocols: Prohibition of cloning of human beings - Transplantation - Biomedical research – Genetic Testing for Health Purposes
A regional instrument but…
Oviedo ConventionEuropean agreement
Addressed issues faced by countries outside Europe Takes into account international dimension Based on values recognised and shared outside 47
member states
Cooperation mechanism within Council of Europe : privileged framework
Possible basis for initiative at global level?
Cooperation: essentialCooperation outside Europe Integral part of working method Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Mexico, USA
Active participation in CoE activities The example of biobank
○ International dimension ○ Common concerns
Cooperation with civil society Integral part of CoE working method Promotion of civil society participation in decision at
national and international level Conference of NGO’s
Particular emphasis in the field of bioethics Issues addressed concern all citizens
○ Hearing, public consultation○ Promotion of public debate, in particular young people
Council of Europe and bioethics
Human rights perspective Reference work not intended to be restricted
to European countries Importance of cooperation with: ○ non member states – other intergovernmental
organisations○ civil society partnership
To address challenges faced by our societies