Global bioethics and human rights

The globalization of biomedical related issues has created the urgent need for coordinated intergovernmental action in order to promote respect for human dignity and human rights in this field, as it is clear that individual countries alone cannot satisfactorily address the new and complex challenges. This situation has been perceived by some intergovernmental organizations, which have made significant efforts over the last decade to establish common standards relating to biomedicine. This article aims, first, to provide an overview of the human rights instruments dealing with bioethical issues adopted by UNESCO and the Council of Europe; second, to explain the reasons for the use of a human rights framework in this area; and third, to respond to the objections that have been raised against this strategy.