Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the role of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR) in the route towards the development of a global bioethics and the implications of framing bioethical issues in international legal discourse. It opens with the observation that soft law approaches to questions of bioethical relevance have become the dominant framework for addressing many ethical questions at national and international level. The book begins with a reconstruction of role of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in promoting universal human rights, from its foundation to the adoption of UDBHR. It continues with a deep analysis of negotiation process which led to the adoption of the Declaration, determining if and to what extent, the UDBHR represents a landmark in the development of a global bioethics.