IBERO-AMERICAN Network

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Coordinators: María de Jesús MEDINA ARELLANO & Ignacio MASTROLEO

E.mails: mariama@unam.mx

              ignaciomastro@gmail.com 

Goals.

One of the aims of this network is to foster the value of free, open, and reasoned discussion in order to reach thoughtful and reasoned positions regarding many of the bioethical problems that Ibero-America faces or that may be of interest to the people of this region. We believe that this goal is in harmony with the London Declaration adopted by the Board of Directors at its 5th World Congress, September 2000. This statement re-affirms that bioethics plays a central role in professional and public debates and notes that in many countries and cultures basic freedom of discussion and disagreement is upheld and promoted. While this freedom is imperilled in other countries and cultures and there is widespread reluctance to discuss problems openly, the reasoned solution may run counter to established opinions and traditions. It also affirms that in public discourse, no individual or group can claim to have exclusive knowledge of the “right” ethical solution and that only reasoned and open debate can lead to justifiable conclusions. We think this network can foster this open thinking throughout the region. We can share knowledge, experience and promote further research.

Language is sometimes a barrier to international academic meetings. One of the tools to achieve this debate and reasoned discussion is by helping people to express themselves in their own languages (Spanish and Portuguese). However, it is also important to preserve links with English speakers so that they can participate (for example, sessions in Spanish or Portuguese also include powerpoint presentations in English, as well as an English version of the abstracts or handouts). We believe that incorporating these other languages fosters the spirit of the IAB by providing a pluralistic space not only for ideas but also for languages, allowing and empowering people that do not feel comfortable speaking in another language to do so in their own.