Founded in 2004, thanks to a grant from the Louis J. Appignani Foundation, the Appignani Humanist Center for Bioethics concentrates on raising awareness of bioethical and scientific issues at local, state, national, and international levels.

Issues

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements define in various ways the normative state of global ethics. Many issues, however, have been widely addressed but remain intensely debated. Pertinent questions of interest to the Center include:

• Is there anything morally objectionable about nuclear transfer technology, or cloning, for reproductive or research purposes? In sentient animals? In humans?

• How are sectarian religious views in the U.S., the Vatican, and elsewhere driving global family planning policy and aid? HIV-AIDS research?

• Who owns bio-scientific knowledge? Can the international community negotiate norms of intellectual property that strike the appropriate balance between commercial interests in copyrighting and controlling medical and bio-scientific data and the compelling public interest in free and open access?

• What is the appropriate posture of the national and international health community towards anti-liberal practices such asfemale genital mutilation, and anti-scientific practices such as medical witchcraft?

• What are the empirically substantiated risks and benefits of genetically modified foods? Are Northern environmentalist fears of pesticides undermining the fight against malaria and other infectious diseases in the South? Is Europe in the grip of an irrational bio-Luddism?

Goals

• To provide members of the national and international community with timely and accessible analysis of bioethical issues from a perspective guided by science, evidence, and humanist values.

• To assist the AHA in its advocacy campaigns, public education, and service to member organizations. To represent the AHA policy positions in the US and at the UN.

• To stimulate the development and leadership of humanist movement in cooperation with all existing humanist organizations, other NGO’s as well as various experts in bioethics and specific target groups (e.g. students).

• To consider the impact of current debates on various ethical issues with global impact and suggest useful approaches to their resolution.

• To examine future implications of current trends in bioethics.

Activities

• An advisory board of scientists, physicians, and policy experts consults with Center staff to stimulate research, draft position papers, and network with other kindred individuals and institutions. click here to learn more about the advisory board.
  
  
• Center experts participate in deliberation at all relevant UN and ECOSOC conferences and meetings. For news of upcoming events click here.
  
  
• The Center organizes periodic workshops and conferences to facilitate public understanding of current bioethical issues. For news of upcoming events click here.
  
  
• The director writes for the Humanist, the official publication of the American Humanist Association click here for news & articles.