Sound policies on ethical issues tied to science, tech vital: Kuwait
Kuwaiti lawmakers embark on Spain, Switzerland visits
PARIS, Sept 20, (KUNA): Vice-President of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) Dr Raslan Al-Enezi on Wednesday stressed the importance of sound policies on ethical issues related to science and technology.
Al-Enezi told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) after he represented Kuwait at the 10th session of the International Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) and the 24th session of the International Bioethics Committee that it was imperative to raise awareness among the general public, specialized groups and decision makers in the public and private sectors concerned with bioethics.
Al-Enezi said that the first panel discussions touched on the reports prepared on ethical issues related to the applications of artificial intelligence with the participation of the communications and information sector in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The reports will be presented to UNESCO’s Director-General, who will present them at the UNESCO’s General Conference.
Ethics
He added that the committee will continue to develop the report on ethics of water, oceans, freshwater and coastal areas with the participation of the Intergovernmental Ocean Committee and the International Hydrological Program.
He noted that the International Bioethics Committee discussed reports prepared on moral issues related to the health issues of refugees around the world and ethical issues related to health and genetic information banks.
He said that Dr Manal Bouhaimed of Kuwait University’s Faculty of Medicine participated in the preparation of these reports as VicePresident of the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO and as an expert in medical ethics from the State of Kuwait.
Topics
He pointed out that these committees have adopted topics of the next rounds 2017-2019, which will be on Internet of Things (IOT) in relation to society, science and sustainability, as well as the theme of new concepts and forms of parenthood that resulted from scientific and genetic developments and their effects on health and reproductive justice.
The committees also adopted the principle of individual responsibility in health as part of their reflection on article V of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights on the independence of decision and individual responsibility.
Meanwhile, a group of Kuwaiti lawmakers, headed by MP Askar Al-Enezi, is to embark on visits to Spain and Switzerland on Wednesday.
The two visits will be carried out by the Sixth Kuwaiti Parliamentary Friendship Group, which also includes MP Mohammed Al-Huwailah.
They come as part of a protocol to strengthen relations between the National Assembly and the parliaments of the two countries, the Kuwaiti Parliament’s press office, AlDustour, said in a press statement.