Michèle Stanton-Jean

The UNESCO Universal Declarations: Paperwork or Added Value to the International Conversation on Bioethics? The Example of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights

In October 2005, the General Conference of UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. Since its adoption, the Declaration has been the object of many publications both positive as well as negative. This article contends that the Declaration, although not perfect, is a valuable addition to the Bioethical conversation. First it discusses the theoretical issues of universality, globalization and human rights. It then takes a pragmatic approach by considering its development, implementation, promotion and contribution to knowledge construction thereby demonstrating its usefulness, especially in countries where bioethical infrastructures were previously absent.