Webinar Series on “Covid-19 response and impact in the Arab region: reflections and recommendations from bioethical perspectives”
In response to the difficult ethical issues raised in our global efforts combating the COVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC) and World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) have jointly issued a Statement on COVID-19: Ethical Considerations from a Global Perspective.
This Statement highlighted some vital ethical issues from a global perspective which urgently need to be recognized all over the world, and appeal for urgent actions to be taken by governments. The Statement is available in English (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000373115) and French (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000373115_fre) on UNESDOC.
In this context, UNESCO webinar series on “Covid-19 response and impact in the Arab region: Reflections and recommendations from bioethical perspectives” (April 2020) aim to provide with a set of recommendations to minimize the number of difficult choices that health care providers and other stakeholders must make and ensuring that when they are made it is for the right reasons. The second edition will be organized on 5 May 2020 with the following agenda (starting 11am Beirut time, 10am Cairo time. Each intervention is followed by a discussion):
12:00-12:05 Welcome: Dr. Seiko Sugita, Programme Specialist for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Beirut
12:05-12:08 Introduction
12:08-12:23
- “Autonomy, Restriction of Freedom, and Solidarity”, Dr. Salwa Hamrouni, Professor of Law at the University of Tunis, Tunisia
12:30-12:45
- “Human Dignity and Treatment of Pandemics”, Prof. Ahmed Khitamy, Secretary General, Omani National Bioethics Committee, Oman
13:00-13:15
- “Communication in times of Public Health Crisis and Pandemic Times”, Prof. Aziz Qmichchou, Professor of Philosophy, Moulay Ismail University, Morocco
13:25-13:40
- TBC, Prof. Nouzha Guessous, Université Hassan II de Casablanca, Morocco
Contact Ms Seiko Sugita, Programme Specialist for Social and Human Sciences, for more questions ([email protected](link sends e-mail)).