Establishing National Bioethics Committee: The case of Nigeria by Chitu Womehoma Princewill
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Abstract
The establishment of a National Bioethics Committee is a requirement for
member states of UNESCO who are signatories to the UNESCO 2005
Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. The Universal
Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights advocates for an independent,
multidisciplinary, and pluralist National Bioethics Committee at the
national, regional, local or institutional level.
Therefore, the National Bioethics Committee is expected to conform to the guidelines of the
Declaration. According to UNESCO’s Assisting Bioethics Committee project
document, the National Bioethics Committee is to provide advice on ethical
issues member states may encounter in research development, application
of scientific knowledge, formulating recommendations regarding
guidelines and legislation, develop tools for standard setting, strengthening
coordination and contacts among experts and institutions, foster debates,
education and public awareness and engagements in bioethics.
The National Bioethics Committee is to reinforce the role of UNESCO as an
international clearing house for ethical issues, as well as act as an
intermediary body for the implementation of the normative instruments
adopted by member states. As a member state of UNESCO and a signatory
to the 2005 Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, Nigeria
is expected to establish a National Bioethics Committee that is
independent, multidisciplinary, and pluralist. This paper highlights the
several meetings and steps taken to establish the Nigerian National
Bioethics Committee, as well as the challenges
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References
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