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20.03.2019 - UNESCO Office in Beirut

UNESCO Beirut organizes an Ethics Teachers Training Course in Damascus

© UNESCO

Although bioethics is well recognized as an effective tool to address ethical conflicts in medical treatments and research, capacity building in this field is needed in Arab Member States. The political instability and constant change of governments in some countries are hindering the establishment and the functioning of national bioethics committees.

Universally established principles of bioethics had been examined by regional organizations and religious authorities in the Arab world such as Al Azhar University, and it has been confirmed that these principles are applicable in the regional context, as they are compatible with the religious and cultural environment in the Arab world. However, actual practices and implementation of such principles into national regulations require due reflection on the social and economic context and further capacity building.

In this context, UNESCO has developed a multifaceted capacity-building strategy that involves several mutually-reinforcing projects designed to assist Member States to address ethical issues arising from the rapid progress in medical and life sciences as UNESCO is mandated to promote, disseminate and elaborate Bioethical principles. This strategy comprises the development of a core bioethics curriculum in Bioethics and its introduction in universities across the region; the delivery of Ethics Teachers Training Course (ETTC) that aim at training a new generation of young scientists and professionals in the teaching of ethics; and the establishments of networks to promote the teaching of ethics.

Against this backdrop, UNESCO Beirut organized on 17-20 March 2019 a regional ETTC in Damascus. The training, held in partnership with the Syrian National Commission for UNESCO, Damascus University, Latakia University,the Syrian Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Syrian National Ethics Committees, and the Syrian Medical Board, targeted 30 participants who are professors in medical and health sciences, natural sciences, law and theology representing 5 universities from 5 cities in Syria. It aimed at introducing the participants to the means and resources of teaching ethics; training the participants on methods and methodologies of teaching ethics; and assessing and provide feedback on the participants’ teaching skills under the guidance of experts.

Speaking at the opening session, Dr Seiko Sugita, Programme Specialist of the Social and Human Sciences Programme at UNESCO Beirut, said: “Is everything feasible ethically admissible? Is it permissible to use any instrument for the whole range of its possible applications? This very question was the beginning of the bioethics programme of UNESCO 25 years ago. Knowledge is always positive. Its application may not be. Indeed, it may be perverse. That is why ethics has become so relevant, especially with increased knowledge and because of the influence of economic interests on its continuous use.” Dr Sugita highlighted that: “Founded on the belief that there can be no peace without the intellectual and moral solidarity of humankind, UNESCO has been involving all countries in this international and trans-cultural discussion to link ethics with science, to never let scientific development outstrip our ability to weigh it critically against the only standard that matters”.

The training was facilitated and delivered by 4 trainers - Dr. Mohamed Ben Ammar, Dr Anas Chebib, Dr. Fawaz Saleh and Dr. Yasser Ali. It was based on an interactive approach and provided participants with a platform to share best practices and success stories, and reflect on the best means to apply ethical principles in their daily practice.




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