In this video, Prof. Johan Hattingh (South Africa), Chair of the UNESCO Expert Group on the Ethics of Climate Change, is highlighting the linkages between new pathogens and the destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity.
As the world is responding to the global health crisis in relation to COVID-19, many concerns have arisen as to the ethical and human rights dimensions of emergency responses. This crisis is not only a health crisis, but also has immediate impact on social cohesion, solidarity, poverty, vulnerability, scientific research, etc. This has been highlighted in the Statement released by UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC) and World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), on 30 March 2020.
In order to keep up with the ethical principles and standards UNESCO stands for in the area of bioethics and ethics of science and technology, UNESCO has stepped up with a first initiative entitled Providing Ethical Frameworks to COVID-19 Responses, in Africa.
Prominent experts and ethicists, from the Southern Africa region and around the world, provide advice to decision makers and frontline professionals, who are presently fighting the pandemic.
