1. Head of Bioethics Division
Experience of the
Council of Europe
Laurence Lwoff
Head of Bioethics Division
Global Challenges, Global Opportunities
Institutions of international policy and governance
The Tarrytown Meeting
July 25-27, 2011

2. 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)

3. 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

4. A regional instrument but…
Oviedo Convention
European 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?

5. Cooperation: essential
Cooperation 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

6. 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