Leading Bioethicists at the International Symposium for World Bioethics Day 2024 in Athens

The 2024 World Bioethics Day in Athens was marked by an international symposium on the theme "Against Discrimination and Stigmatization," featuring globally renowned bioethicists Julian Savulescu (Professor at the University of Oxford and National University of Singapore) and Roberto Andorno (Professor at the University of Zurich). The event, held on October 18, 2024, in the "Aristotle" Amphitheatre at Panteion University of Athens, drew participation from distinguished scientists in Bioethics and Medical Ethics.

This year's theme, "Against Discrimination and Stigmatization," was inspired by Article 11 of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR). The principles of non-discrimination and non-stigmatization are vital to upholding human dignity and human rights, and they are especially relevant in today's era of globalization and heightened social interaction. Attendees were able to hear world-class presentations addressing the challenges of applying these principles in modern society.

In his presentation, Julian Savulescu explored the ethical implications of using polygenic risk scores for reproduction. His speech, titled “The Ethics of Polygenic Risk Scores for Reproduction,” examined the potential for selecting embryos based on their likelihood of being healthier, having a higher potential for well-being, and exhibiting moral behaviour. He also presented new data on public acceptability and proposed a harm-based model for law reform regarding genetic selection.

Roberto Andorno's presentation, “How to Prevent Neurodiscrimination in the Workplace?” discussed the growing use of neurotechnological advancements by employers to monitor employee performance and concentration. He addressed two major ethical and legal concerns: the intrusion into workers' mental privacy and the potential for neurodiscrimination. Andorno highlighted two relevant legal principles: proportionality and subsidiarity.

In addition to the contributions of Savulescu and Andorno, the symposium featured presentations from distinguished Greek bioethicists. The event was organized in a hybrid format (in-person and online); it was hosted by the NKUA Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory and the Hellenic (Athens) Department of the International Chair in Bioethics (WMA Cooperative Center). Co-organizers included the National Commission for Bioethics & Technoethics, the European Laboratory of Bioethics, Technoethics, and Law, the Biopolitics Research Center, the National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos," and the MaGBISE (Management-Intelligence-Ethics) Research Laboratory of Democritus University of Thrace.

The symposium was live-streamed on the NKUA Applied Philosophy Research Lab's YouTube channel and broadcast by media sponsor BCI Media (Broadcast Canadian & International TV Network).

The symposium was also covered by ALPHA: