Nanoethics and Science Policy: UNESCO Programmes on Nanoethics Darryl Macer, Ph.D.

1. RUSHSAP Nanoethics and Science Policy: UNESCO Programmes on Nanoethics • Darryl Macer, Ph.D. • Regional Advisor on Social and Human Sciences in Asia and the Pacific, • RUSHSAP (Regional Unit for Social and Human Sciences in Asia and the Pacific), • UNESCO Bangkok, 920 Sukhumvit Road, Prakanong, Bangkok 10110, Thailand • Email: d.macer@unescobkk.org

2. RUSHSAP UNESCO functions Laboratory of ideas Foresight Research linkages to policy Poverty eradication Ethics of S&T

3. RUSHSAP Viewpoints: Anthropocentric? Biocentric? Ecocentric?

4. RUSHSAP UNESCO Ethics Committees The Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology in Paris HQ acts as the Secretariat of two bioethics advisory bodies: the International Bioethics Committee (IBC) composed of 36 independent experts, and the Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC), composed of representatives of 36 Member States; and the World Commission on Ethics of Science and Technology (COMEST). These Committees cooperate to produce advice, recommendations and proposals that each submits to the Director-General for consideration by UNESCO’s governing bodies.

5. UNESCO Ethics of Science and Technology Mediate between scientific expertise and policy-making (research-policy linking) IBC IGBC bioethics Political decision making regarding ethical issues in the Member States science ethics Standard-setting actions environmental ethics COMEST Capacity building space ethics Awareness raising Inter-agency Com nanotechnology ethics

6. RUSHSAP International Standards for Bioethics UNESCO General Conference 1997 and the UN General Assembly 1998 Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights UNESCO General Conference 2003 International Declaration on Human Genetic Data UNESCO General Conference 2005 Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights

7. Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights • Human dignity and human rights • Benefit and harm • Autonomy and individual responsibility • Consent • Persons without the capacity to consent • Respect for human vulnerability and personal integrity • Privacy and confidentiality • Equality, justice and equity • Non-discrimination and non-stigmatization • Respect for cultural diversity and pluralism • Solidarity and cooperation • Social responsibility and health • Sharing of benefits • Protecting future generations • Protection of the environment, the biosphere and biodiversity Preamble General provisions aims scope Principles Application of the principles Promotion of the declaration Final provisions

8. Honesty Truthfulness Respect Codes of professional behaviour International Standards for Ethics and Responsibility • Core traits or virtues related to individual behaviour: • Fairness • Conscientiousness • Loyalty • Openness • Accuracy • Collaboration

9. Environmental responsibility Socio-economic Development Socio-economic Equity Scientific Freedom Democratic Development Codes of professional behaviour International Standards for Ethics and Responsibility • Core traits or virtues related to the community: • Social Responsibility • Sustainable Development • Social Welfare • Gender Equality • Peace • Human Rights

10. Formally created in 1998, during the154th Sessionof the UNESCO Executive Board • Composed of 18 prominent independent personalities from different regions of the world and from various scientific and humanistic disciplines; plus 11 ex officio members

11. What is the mandate of COMEST? • Advisory body of UNESCO • Intellectual forum for the exchange of ideas and experience • Detect early signs of risk situations associated with science and technology • Promote dialogue between scientific community, decision-makers and the public at large

12. The World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology What is the task of COMEST? To formulate, on a scientific basis, ethical principles that can shed light on the various choices and impacts occasioned by new advancements in scientific and technological fields, thus fostering a constructive ethical dialogue on the values at stake.

13. RUSHSAP COMEST examination of nanoethics- First explored at the 3rd Ordinary Session in Rio de Janeiro (December 2003)- COMEST adopted a three-stage strategic approach (1) Establishment of expert group (2005) (2) Testing the relevance of potential international actions – Outline of a policy document adopted at the 5th Ordinary Session in Dakar (2006) (3) Enhancing the political feasibility of potential actions

14. RUSHSAP This approach led to the production of 3 documents - A brochure on the « Ethics and Politics of Nanotechnology »

15. RUSHSAP Report from UNESCOPrivacyToxicityEnvironmental risksHype on both sidesSome novel issuesMany common issues

16. RUSHSAP - A comprehensive book on « Nanotechnologies, Ethics and Politics »

17. RUSHSAP - A policy document on « Nanotechnologies and Ethics: Policies and Actions

18. RUSHSAP • Nanotechnologies and Ethics: Policies & Actions • Defines the central features of nanotechnology in various dimensions that call for ethical considerations • Nanotechnology relies on several sciences and technologies (interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary dimension) • Invisibility of nanoparticles and nanofibres • Rapid development of nanotechnologies • Military and Security Use • Global impact • Risk of nanodivide between developing and developed countries

19. RUSHSAP • Nanotechnologies and Ethics: Policies & Actions • Describes 4 types of action regarding nanotechnologies and ethics • Articulating an ethical framework; • awareness raising; • ethics education; • research and development policies

20. RUSHSAP • Nanotechnologies and Ethics: Policies & Actions • - Research on ethical and legal issues • - Voluntary guidelines • Nanoethics Committees • - Application of existing ethical international principles • (cf. Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights and Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights)

21. RUSHSAP Summary Report on RecommendationsAdopted at the Sixth Ordinary Session of COMEST (2009) • Recommendations on the ethics of nanotechnologies (!/2) • On the basis of the report presented in public session, and of the debate thereon, COMEST discussed in detail the extent to which the rapid development of nanotechnologies, and emerging dynamics of scientific and technological convergence, were giving rise to new ethical challenges. Stressing the need for follow-up to its earlier policy recommendations, published in 2007, COMEST adopted the following specific recommendations on the ethics of nanotechnologies.

22. RUSHSAP COMEST 2009 Recommendations on the ethics of nanotechnologies (2/2) • Taking note of the conclusions of the regional expert meeting on nanotechnologies and ethics in the Arab region, held in Doha (Qatar) in May 2009, and with particular reference to rapid scientific and technological development in the area of nanotechnology, UNESCO is requested to bring to the attention of its Member States in the Arab region the potential value of a “Declaration on the Ethics of Nanotechnologies in the Arab States”, based on the COMEST policy recommendations, and to support the relevant processes as required. • With a view to improved access to information resources, documents and research relating to nanotechnology ethics, UNESCO is requested to enhance coverage of information on nanotechnologies and ethics in Database 6 of the Global Ethics Observatory.

23. RUSHSAP COMEST activities linked to European Commission - Nanocap project was initiated by European Commission, and discussed in EU Parliament to reinforce capacity in Trade Unions and NGOs- EU adopted in 2004 a code of conduct for responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research for all 27 EUcountries to have a common vision and governance

24. RUSHSAP Code of conduct for responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research - Complementary to existing regulations - Regularly monitored and revised every two years - Covers all Nanotechnology Research Activities - Calls for dialogue with other countries outside EU • Principles: Sustainability, Precaution, Inclusiveness, Excellence, Innovation, Accountability

25. RUSHSAP COMEST Future directions – Arab region Declaration • Creation of a steering committee (8-10 experts) - relevant international organizations, COMEST members, engineers, ethicists, natural and social scientists, NGOs, IGOs and other stakeholders in the Arab region. • 1st meeting of the steering committee, possibly in Amman by the end of 2009 - draft for consultation of such a Declaration. Consultation process in 2010, including formal involvement of Member States and National Commissions. Final draft to be adopted by States in the Arab region in 2011, possibly in conjunction with the Ordinary Session of COMEST. Endorsement of the Declaration on the Ethics of Nanotechnologies in the Arab States by the 36th UNESCO General Conference in 2011.

26. RUSHSAP • Nanotechnology is being applied to daily life already. • Should it be subject to special ethical consideration? • Already claims of its use in assassinations without trace. • Chinese workers deaths and illnesses linked to nano-particles in the factories

27. RUSHSAP Do materials vanish without a trace? Industrial responsibility in manufacturing for workers and nature, in many countries.

28. RUSHSAP Precaution? How far to apply the principle of to do no harm? New technology may do less harm to environment or to people’s health.

29. RUSHSAP Bioethics exhibition includes Nanobiotech

30. RUSHSAP What would the workshop suggest to UNESCO for the Asia and Pacific region?

31. RUSHSAP UNESCO Bangkok websitehttp://www.unescobkk.org/rushsapTeaching resourcesUNESCO Asia-Pacific School of EthicsPhilosophical dialogueshttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsiaArabPhilosophicalDialoguesEthics of Energy Technologies Projectunesco_eet@yahoogroups.comUNESCO Parishttp://www.unesco.org/shs