European seminar on “Right to the Integrity of the Person, with a particular focus on the field of biology and medicine
European seminar on “Right to the Integrity of the Person, with a particular focus on the field of biology and medicine” was organized in Belgium on 6-7 October under the EU-CoE Joint Programme HELP in the 28.
“Safeguarding human rights and promoting progress in biomedicine: an essential synergy”was one of the main conclusions of the Europeanseminar. The Seminar was organised in Belgium on 6-7 October under the EU-CoE Joint Programme HELP in the 28, in collaboration with the Belgium Institute for Judicial Training (IFG-IGO) and, more particularly, the CoE Bioethics Unit. Apart from EU officials from DG Justice linked to the Programme, various experts covered the subject from the legal and medical perspective. The mutually reinforcing relationship between the CoE and EU systems was explored by various speakers. Former CoE Human Rights Commissioner Gil-Robles closed the event inspiring attendees to continue the fight of human rights where much has been achieved in the last decades, in spite of difficult current European context.
Over 50 judges, prosecutors and lawyers as well as academic and health professionals gathered to raise awareness on the Right to the Integrity of the Person, with a particular focus on the field of biology and medicine. The role of legal professionals in its protection was also discussed, as well as the challenges they face. Developments in the biomedical field are definitely a potential source of great benefit for human beings, in particular human health, but they also offer more possibilities to intervene on and control human life. From CELAB Judit Sandor gave a keynote lecture on the prohibition of the financial gain.
The Seminar was opened by the IJF-IGO Director, EC DG Justice Official (European Judicial Training), and Deputy Head of CoE office in Brussels, all of whom highlighted the importance of the joint EU-CoE ‘HELP in the 28’ Programme. The HELP network is the largest HR training project within the EU for judges, prosecutors and lawyers.
The Seminar offered indeed the right forum to present the achievements of the European Programme on Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals in the 28 EU countries, also known as ‘HELP in the 28’ and to promote its online course on Right to the Integrity of the Person (bioethics). The objective of this course is to assist legal professionals in the implementation of the European system of protection, based mainly on the European Convention on Human Rights and the Convention on Human rights and Biomedicine as well as the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and other EU laws (i.e. Directives). It covers in a practical way the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), pointing out to problems such as medical interventions or removal of organs or body parts without consent; medically assisted procreation; physical abuse; or end-of-life situations. This course is supposed to be piloted in Belgium, France, Italy and Poland.