Organized by UNESCO’s Bioethics and Ethics of Sciences Program for Latin America and the, together with the National Bioethics Committee of El Salvador and the Ministry of Health of El Salvador, the initiative aimed at promoting a new stage the Regional Network of National Bioethics Committees created in 2011 in Santo Domingo.

Ms Susana Vidal, Regional Program Specialist responsible for UNESCO’s Bioethics and Ethics of Science for Latin America and Caribbean, stated: "Having brought together in a unique opportunity for the majority of Member States of the Region is a step forward in the realization of the mandate of the Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights of UNESCO ".

After two days of intensive work and rich exchanges on the current situation of National Bioethics Committees in the region, the Network agreed on a new work plan. By signing a joint document, participants were personally committed to promoting the establishment of national bioethics committees in those countries where they do not exist, and strengthen the already created following the criteria of independence, plurality and interdisciplinarity promoted by UNESCO.

To this end, they agreed on the establishment of a participatory platform to support each other in identifying common concerns of the Committees of the region and possible ways to achieve their solution. The strategy will encourage exchange of knowledge and experience in bioethics, generate communication mechanisms at regional and international levels, promote common training activities and collect information, and encourage ethical reflections on emerging and persistent issues taking into account the particularities of each country.

• Text "San Salvador Commitment"