COVID-19 - Protect human health and dignity, respect universal values

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global phenomenon with consequences that are already dramatic in many areas. UNESCO, and its Social and Human Sciences Programme in particular, is being called upon in various ways. A major challenge prevails beyond all our potential actions: to protect human health and dignity and to respect universal values in the current context. At this stage, this involves: combating discriminatory discourse, hatred and stigmatization; identifying the most vulnerable social groups in order to conceptualize appropriate measures and share good practices; ensuring respect for ethical rules; and, studying and understanding the impact of the crisis on social relations (within families; between generations; between social and ethnic groups, etc.).

UNESCO calls for COVID-19 vaccines to be considered a global public good

UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC) and the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) have called for a change of course in current COVID-19 vaccination strategies, urging that vaccines be treated as a global public good to ensure they are made equitably available in all countries, and not only to those who bid the highest for these vaccines. Both committees have a long track record in providing ethical guidance on sensitive issues.

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Read related IBC reports

Report of the IBC on the Principle of Individual Responsibility as related to Health (2019)
Report of the IBC on the Bioethical Response to the Situation of Refugees (2017)
Report of the IBC on the Principle of the Sharing of Benefits (2015)
Report of the IBC on the Principle of Non-Discrimination and Non-Stigmatization (2014)
The Principle of Respect for Human Vulnerability and Personal Integrity. Report of the IBC (2013)
Report of the IBC on social responsibility and health (2010)
See also: Report of COMEST on “Ethical Perspective on Science, Technology and Society: A Contribution to the Post-2015 Agenda” (2015)

Youth as Researchers: exploring the impact of COVID-19

The Youth As Researchers (YAR) global initiative on COVID-19 connects and engages with youth to conduct research on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people and the responses this population has implemented to tackle these issues. UNESCO, together with the UNESCO Chairs, leads a consortium of youth-led or youth-related actors to support the research through training, mentoring, and coordination.