Report of the IBC on updating its reflection on the human genome and human rights
In response to the rapid advancements in genetics and genomics, and within the framework of its work programme for 2014-2015, the International Bioethics Committee (IBC) decided to update its reflection on the issue of the human genome and human rights, building upon the considerable work done on this topic by the IBC in the past, and in particular, taking into account the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (1997), the International Declaration on Human Genetic Data (2003), and the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005). Prior to the 21st Session of the IBC and the Joint Session of the IBC and the Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC) in September 2014, a concept note was prepared by a small working group of the Committee, providing a preliminary outline of potential areas of reflection for this topic. Members of the IBC, the IGBC, the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), and the UN Interagency Committee on Bioethics (UNIACB) were invited to submit written comments and suggestions on the concept note. Both the concept note and written submissions were then discussed during the sessions in September 2014. Following this discussion, the IBC established a larger working group to prepare a draft report on the topic, which was discussed during the 9th Session of the IGBC in July 2015. The draft report was then revised to take into account the comments of the IGBC. The final draft of the report was further discussed, revised and adopted during the 22nd Session of the IBC in October 2015
eBook, English, 2015
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Paris, 2015