University of Minnesota


All Bioethics and Human Rights Instruments


Conventions and Additional Protocols on Bioethics and the Protection of Human Rights || Resolutions and Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights by Inter-Governmental Bodies ||
Statements and Recommendations on Bioethics and Human Rights by Non-Governmental Bodies || Link to Original Sources of Instruments

CONVENTIONS AND ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS ON BIOETHICS AND THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Additional Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine on the Prohibition of Cloning Human Beings, (ETS No. 168), opened for signature on Jan. 12, 1998, not in force.
European Convention For the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with Regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, (ETS No. 164), entered into force Dec. 1, 1999.
Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, 75 U.N.T.S. 85, entered into force Oct. 21, 1950.
Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, 75 U.N.T.S. 31, entered into force Oct. 21, 1950.
Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 75 U.N.T.S. 135, entered into force Oct. 21, 1950.
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 1125 U.N.T.S. 3, entered into force Dec. 7, 1978.

RESOLUTIONS AND DECLARATIONS ON BIOETHICS AND HUMAN RIGHTS BY INTER-GOVERNMENTAL BODIES
Action Plan, Council of Europe, Assembly of Heads of State and Government, Second Summit, Strasbourg, France, 10-11 October 1997).
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Fourth World Conference on Women, 15 September 1995, A/CONF.177/20 (1995) and A/CONF.177/20/Add.1 (1995).
Council of Europe, Ad Hoc Committee of Experts on Bioethics, Report on Human Artificial Procreation (Strasbourg: 1989).
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (83) 2 Concerning the Legal Protection of Persons Suffering from Mental Disorders Placed as Involuntary Patients (Feb. 22, 1983).
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (83) 25 Concerning Common European Public Health Policy to Fight the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Nov. 26, 1987).
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (89) 4 on Collection of Epidemiological Data on Primary Health Care (Mar. 6, 1989), reprinted in 41 International Digest of Health Legislation 148 (1990)
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (89) 14 on the Ethical Issues of HIV Infection in the Health Care and Social Settings (Oct. 24,1989), reprinted in 41 International Digest of Health Legislation 39 (1990).
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (90) 3 Concerning Medical Research on Human Beings (Feb. 6, 1990), reprinted in 41 International Digest of Health Legislation 461 (1990).
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (90) 13 on Prenatal Genetic Screening, Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis and Associated Genetic Counselling (June 21, 1990), reprinted in 41 International Digest of Health Legislation 615 (1990).
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (92) 3 on Genetic Testing and Screening for Health Care Purposes (Feb. 10, 1992), reprinted in 43 International Digest of Health Legislation 284 (1992).
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (94) 11 on Screening as a Tool of Preventive Medicine (Oct. 10, 1994).
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (97) 5 on the Protection of Medical Data (Feb. 13, 1997).
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (97) 15 on Xenotransplantation (Sept. 30, 1997).
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R (98) 7 Concerning the Ethical and Organisational Aspects of Health Care in Prison (Apr. 8, 1998).
Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, Opinion No. 202 (1997) on the Draft Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine on the Prohibition of Cloning Human Beings (Sept. 23, 1997).
Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, Order No. 534 (1997) on Research and the Cloning of Human Beings (Sept. 23, 1997).
Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, Recommendation 1046 (1986) on the Use of Human Embryos and Foetuses for Diagnostic, Therapeutic, Scientific, Industrial and Commercial Purposes (Sept. 24, 1986).
Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, Recommendation 1080 (1988) on a Co-ordinated European Health Policy to Prevent the Spread of AIDS in Prisons (June 30, 1988).
Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, Recommendation 1160 (1991) on the Preparation of a Convention on Bioethics (June 28, 1991).
Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, Recommendation 1254 (1994) on the Medical and Welfare Rights of the Elderly: Ethics and Policies (Nov. 10, 1994).
Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, Recommendation 1355 (1998) on Fighting Social Exclusion and Strengthening Social Cohesion in Europe (Jan. 28, 1998).
Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live, G.A. res. 40/144, annex, 40 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 53) at 252, U.N. Doc. A/40/53 (1985).

Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, G.A. res. 2856 (XXVI), 26 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 29) at 93, U.N. Doc. A/8429 (1971).

European Council Declaration on Banning the Cloning of Human Beings (1997), Bulletin of the European Union 22 (June 1997)
Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, 75 U.N.T.S. 85, entered into force Oct. 21, 1950.
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, 75 U.N.T.S. 287, entered into force Oct. 21, 1950.
Human Rights and Bioethics, C.H.R. res. 1995/82, ESCOR Supp. (No. 4) at 244, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1995/82 (1995).

Human rights and Bioethics, C.H.R. res. 1997/71, ESCOR Supp. (No. 3) at 233, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1997/71 (1997)

Human Rights and Bioethics, C.H.R. res. 1999/63, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/RES/1999/63 (1999).
Human rights and forensic science, C.H.R. res. 1998/36, ESCOR Supp. (No. 3) at 130, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1998/36 (1998).
Human Rights and Forensic Science, C.H.R. res. 2000/32, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/RES/2000/32 (2000).
Human Rights and Scientific and Technological Developments, Commission on Human Rights decision 1998/104.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, G.A. res. 2200A (XXI), 21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 16) at 52, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 U.N.T.S. 171, entered into force Mar. 23, 1976.
Inter-Parliamentary Union, Resolution on Bioethics and its Implications Worldwide for Human Rights Protection (1995).
Opinion on Ethical Aspects of Cloning Techniques, Group of Advisers of the Ethical Implications of Biotechnology of the European Commission, Opinion No. 9 (May 28, 1997), reprinted in 49 International Digest of Health Legislation 406 (1998).
Opinion on the Ethical Implications of Gene Therapy, Group of Advisers to the European Commission on the Ethical Implications of Biotechnology, Opinion No. 5, (May 5, 1995)
Opinion on Ethical Aspects of Patenting Inventions Involving Elements of Human Origin, Group of Advisers on the Ethical Implications of Biotechnology of the European Commission, Opinion No. 9 (May 28, 1997), reprinted in 49 International Digest of Health Legislation 406 (1998).
Opinion on Ethical Aspects of Prenatal Diagnosis, Group of Advisers to the European Commission on the Ethical Implications of Biotechnology, Opinion No. 6 (Feb. 20, 1995).

Opinion on the Ethical Aspects of the 5th Research Framework Programme, Group of Advisers on the Ethical Implications of Biotechnology of the European Commission, Opinion No. 10, (Dec. 11, 1997).

Opinion on Ethical Questions Arising from the Commission Proposal for a Council Directive on Legal Protection for Biotechnological Inventions, Group Advisers to the European Commission on the Ethical Implications of Biotechnology, Opinion No. 3 (Oct. 1, 1993)
Opinion on Products Derived from Human Blood or Blood Plasma, Group of Advisers to the European Commission on the Ethical Implications of Biotechnology, Opinion No. 2 (Mar. 12, 1993)
Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illnesses and the Improvement of Mental Health Care, G.A. res. 46/119, 46 U.N. GAORSupp. (No. 49) at 189, U.N. Doc. A/46/49 (1991).
Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the Role of Health Personnel, particularly Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, G.A. res. 37/194, annex, 37 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 51) at 211, U.N. Doc. A/37/51 (1982).
The Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), C.H.R. res. 1999/49, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/RES/1999/49 (1999).
Recommendation on the Status of Scientific Researchers, UNESCO Gen. Conf. Res. 18 C/Res.40, 18th Sess. (1974).
Recommendation No. R (97) 16 on Liver Transplantation from Living Donors, Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, (Sept. 30, 1997)
Resolution on Cloning, European Parliament, 1997 O.J. (C 115) 14.4/92 (Mar. 12, 1997)
Resolution on Human Cloning, European Parliament, 1998 O.J. (C 34) 164 (Jan. 15, 1998)
Resolution on the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the development of public health policy in the European Community, 1999 O.J. (C 175) 135 (Mar. 10, 1999).
Rights of the child, C.H.R. res. 1998/76, ESCOR Supp. (No. 3) at 240, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/1998/76 (1998).
Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuremberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10 (1946-1949) [Nuremberg Code].
Universal Declaration on Human Genome and Human Rights, adopted on 11 November 1997.
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna, 14-25 June 1993, U.N. Doc. A/CONF.157/24 (Part I) at 20 (1993).

STATEMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON BIOETHICS AND HUMAN RIGHTS BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL BODIES
Amnesty International, Declaration on the Role of Health Professionals in the Exposure of Torture and Ill-Treatment (1996), adopted by Amnesty International, January 1996, Appendix 2, Prescription for Change: Health Professionals and the Exposure of Human Rights Violations at 42, Amnesty International Report No. ACT 75/01/96 (1996).
Amnesty International, Principles for the Medical Investigation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, Appendix 2, Prescription for Change: Health Professionals and the Exposure of Human Rights Violations at 39, Amnesty International Report No. ACT 75/01/96 (1996).
Amnesty International, Stockholm Plan of Action Against Torture, adopted by the International Conference on Torture (Stockholm, 4-6 October 1996), Amnesty International Report No. ACT 40/02/96 (1996).
The Barcelona Declaration on Policy Proposals to the European Commission on Basic Ethical Principles in Bioethics and Biolaw (adopted in November 1998 by Partners in the BIOMED II Project)
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration on Euthanasia (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1980).
Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS), The Declaration of Inuyama on Human Genome Mapping, Genetic Screening and Gene Therapy (1990), reprinted in Source Book in Bioethics: A Documentary History 322 (Albert R. Jonsen et al. eds., 1998).
The Dakar Declaration, adopted at the 4th Regional Conference/General Assembly of the Inter-African Committee (IAC), organised jointly by WHO and IAC (Dakar, 17-21 November 1997)
Denver Summit of the Eight, Final Communique, para.47 (June 22, 1997).
Ethical Guidelines for Epidemiological Investigations (Geneva: World Health Organization, Scientific Working Group on Epidemiology of the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, 1989).
Ethical Guidelines for Human Reproduction Research in the Muslim World, reprinted in Serour GI (ed). Proceedings of the First International Congress on Bioethics in Human Reproduction Research in the Muslim World. 11 IICPSR (1992).
European Association for Bioindustries (EUROPABIO), Core Ethical Values (1998).
European Forum for Good Clinical Practice, Guidelines and Recommendations for European Ethics Committees (rev. ed. 1997).
Forging the Link Between Health and Human Rights, Statement of the Consortium for Health and Human Rights (Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights; Global Lawyers and Physicians; International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War; and Physicians for Human Rights), issued to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1998)
Fukui Statement on International Bioethics, Adopted at the Third International Bioethics Seminar (Fukui, Japan, 19-21 November 1993)
Hippocratic Oath (Fifth Century B.C.), reprinted in Encyclopedia of Bioethics 2632 (Warren Thomas Reich et al. eds., rev. ed. 1995).
Human Genome Organisation; Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues Committee; Statement on DNA Sampling: Control and Access (1998).
Human Genome Organisation; Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues Committee; Statement on the Principled Conduct of Genetics Research (1996).
International Confederation of Midwives, International Code of Ethics for Midwives (1993).
International Council of Nurses, Position Statement, The Nurses' Role in the Care of Prisoners and Detainees (1998).
International Council of Nurses, Nurses and Human Rights (1998).
International Council of Nurses, Statement on Nurses and Torture (1989; reviewed in 1991; replaced, 1998).
International Council of Nurses, Statement on the Death Penalty and Participation by Nurses in Executions (1989; reviewed in 1991; replaced, 1998).
International Council of Nurses; Torture, Death Penalty and Participation by Nurses in Executions (1998).
International Labour Organization, Report, Technical and Ethical Guidelines for Workers' Health Surveillance (Geneva: International Labour Office, 1998).
Islamic Code of Medical Ethics, reprinted in Encyclopedia of Bioethics 2705 (Warren Thomas Reich, et al. eds., rev. ed. 1995).
Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences, Islamic Code of Medical Ethics (1981).
Magisterium of the Catholic Church, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions of the Day (Feb. 22, 1987), reprinted in 16 Origins 697 (1987).
Melbourne Declaration on Physician-Assisted Dying, Adopted by the 11th International Conference of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies (Melbourne, 15-18 October 1996)
Network for European CNS Transplantation and Restoration (NECTAR), Ethical Guidelines for the Use of Human Embryonic or Fetal Tissue for Experimental and Clinical Neurotransplantation and Research (1994).
Pontifical Academy for Life, Declaration on the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (2000)
Pontifical Academy for Life, Identity and Statute of Human Embryo (1997)
Pontifical Academy for Life, Notes on Cloning
Pontifical Academy for Life, Observations on the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (1997)
Pontifical Academy for Life, Reflections on Cloning (1997).
Pontifical Academy for Life, Statement on the So-Called "Morning-After Pill" (2000)
Proposed Model Ethical Protocol for Collecting DNA Samples, Prepared by the North American Regional Committee of the Human Genome Diversity Project (1998)
U.N. Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Malta Recommendations on Human Rights Teaching, Information and Documentation (1987).
World Confederation for Physical Therapy, Guidelines Concerning Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment (1995).
World Confederation for Physical Therapy, WCPT Resolution in support of Torture Victims Day (1999).
World Health Organization, Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice for Trials on Pharmaceutical Products (Geneva: World Health Organization, 1995).
World Health Organization, Guiding Principles on Human Organ Transplantation (Geneva: World Health Organization, 1991), reprinted in 42 International Digest of Health Legislation 389 (1991).
World Health Organization, Proposed International Guidelines on Ethical Issues in Medical Genetics and Genetic Services (1998), WHO/HGN/GL/ETH/98.1.
World Health Organization, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Declaration on the Promotion of Patients' Rights in Europe, reprinted in 45 International Digest of Health Legislation 411 (1995).
World Medical Association, Declaration on Euthanasia (1987).
World Medical Association, Declaration on Family Violence (1996).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Geneva [Physician's Oath], reprinted in Encyclopedia of Bioethics 2646 (Warren Thomas Reich et al. eds., rev. ed. 1995).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Hamburg on Support for Medical Doctors Refusing to Participate in, or to Condone, the Use of Torture or Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment (1997).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Helsinki: Recommendations Guiding Physicians in Biomedical Research Involving Subjects (1964; 1975; 1983; 1989); reprinted in Encyclopedia of Bioethics 2765 (Warren Thomas Reich et al. eds., rev. ed. 1995).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Hong Kong on the Abuse of the Elderly (1989; 1990).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Lisbon on the Rights of the Patient (1981; 1995).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Madrid on Professional Autonomy and Self-Regulation (1987).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Oslo [on therapeutic abortion] (1970; 1983).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Ottawa on the Right of the Child for Health Care (1998).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Sydney [on death] (1968; 1983).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Tokyo (1975), reprinted in Professional Codes of Ethics 28 (Alfred Heijder & Herman Van Geuns eds., 1976).
World Medical Association, Declaration of Venice on Terminal Illness (1983).
World Medical Association, Declaration on Human Organ Transplantation (1987).
World Medical Association, Declaration on Human Rights and Individual Freedom of Medical Practitioners (1985).
World Medical Association, Declaration on Hunger Strikers (1991; 1992).
World Medical Association, Declaration on Medical Education (1991).
World Medical Association, Declaration on Nuclear Weapons (1998).
World Medical Association, Declaration on Physician Independence and Professional Freedom (1986).
World Medical Association, Declaration on Principles of Health Care for Sports Medicine (1981; 1987; 1993).
World Medical Association, Declaration on the Human Genome Project (1992).
World Medical Association, Declaration with Guidelines for Continuous Quality Improvement in Health Care (1997).
World Medical Association, International Code of Medical Ethics (1949; 1983), reprinted in Encyclopedia of Bioethics 2647 (Warren Thomas Reich et al. eds., rev. ed. 1995).
World Medical Association, Proposal for a United Nations Rapporteur on the Independence and Integrity of Health Professionals (1997).
World Medical Association, Recommendations Concerning Genetic Counselling and Genetic Engineering, (1987).
World Medical Association, Recommendations Concerning Medical Care in Rural Areas (1964; 1983)
World Medical Association, Regulations in Time of Armed Conflict (1956; 1983).
World Medical Association, Resolution on Economic Embargoes and Health (1997).
World Medical Association, Resolution on The Hague Appeal for Peace (1998).
World Medical Association, Resolution on Human Rights (1990; 1993; 1995).
World Medical Association, Resolution on Medical Care for Refugees (1998).
World Medical Association, Resolution on Medical Group Practice (1988).
World Medical Association, Resolution on the Medical Workforce (1998).
World Medical Association, Resolution on Physicians' Conduct Concerning Human Organ Transplantation (1994).
World Medical Association, Resolution on Physician Participation in Capital Punishment (1981).
World Medical Association, Resolution on the Prohibition of Access of Women to Health Care and the Prohibition of Practice by Female Doctors in Afghanistan (1997).
World Medical Association, Resolution Supporting the Ottawa Convention (1998).
World Medical Association, Statement of Policy on the Care of Patients with Severe Chronic Pain in Terminal Illness (1990).
World Medical Association, Statement on Access to Health Care (1988).
World Medical Association, Statement on Body Searches of Prisoners (1993).
World Medical Association, Statement on Child Abuse and Neglect (1984; 1995).
World Medical Association, Statement on Economic Sanctions or Boycotts (1988).
World Medical Association, Statement on Ethical Aspects of Embryonic Reduction (1995).
World Medical Association, Statement on Ethical Issues Concerning Patients with Mental Illness (1995).
World Medical Association, Statement on Family Planning and the Right of a Woman to Contraception (1996).
World Medical Association, Statement on Fetal Tissue Transplantation (1989).
World Medical Association, Statement on Health Promotion (1995).
World Medical Association, Statement on Home Medical Monitoring, "Tele-Medicine" and Medical Ethics (1992).
World Medical Association, Statement on In-Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transplantation (1987).
World Medical Association, Statement on Issues Raised by the HIV Epidemic (1992).
World Medical Association, Statement on Live Organ Trade (1985).
World Medical Association, Statement on Medical Ethics in the Event of Disasters (1994).
World Medical Association, Statement on Medical Malpractice (1992).
World Medical Association, Statement on Patient Advocacy and Confidentiality (1993).
World Medical Association, Statement on Persistent Vegetative State (1989).
World Medical Association, Statement on Physician-Assisted Suicide (1992).
World Medical Association, Statement on Professional Responsibility for Standards of Medical Care (1996).
World Medical Association, Statement on the Health Hazards of Tobacco Products (1997).
World Medical Association, Statement on the Professional Responsibility of Physicians in Treating AIDS Patients (1988).
World Medical Association, Statement on the Use and Misuse of Psychotropic Drugs (1975).
World Medical Association, Statement on the Use of Computer in Medicine (1973; 1983).
World Medical Association, World Medical Association Statement on Medical Manpower - I (1983; 1986).
World Medical Association, World Medical Association Statement on Medical Manpower - II (1999).
World Medical Association, World Medical Association Statement on Medical Manpower - III (1999).
World Medical Association, Statement on Weapons and their Relation to Life and Health (1996).
World Medical Association, Twelve Principles of Provision of Health Care in Any National Health Care System (1963; 1983).
World Psychiatric Association, Declaration of Madrid (Madrid, Spain, Aug. 25, 1996).
World Psychiatric Association Ethics Committee, Guidelines Concerning Specific Situations (1996).

 



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