Abstract

In the development and acceptance of Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR), the Protestant faith tradition was not involved in the consultation process (other traditions were indeed consulted). This brings the universality (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO] perspective) as well as the acceptability of the declaration and its principles (civic perspective) into question. To address this issue, it is necessary to involve the Protestant tradition in the discourse by presenting own reasons to support the universal principles in the declaration (theological perspective). In order to achieve the aim, two facets of Article 13 will be studied. In the first place, to present satisfactory own reasons, it is important to investigate and construe beforehand what UNESCO’s understanding is of the content of Article 13 of the declaration. In the second place, with sufficient understanding of Article 13, a theological evaluation and grounding will be undertaken. From a broad Protestant perspective, this discourse has shown that solidarity as a shared value can be grounded in a Trinitarian approach. It is clear that Article 13 of the UDBHR can be grounded in a broad Protestant social teaching; therefore, the call for solidarity can be encouraged, wholeheartedly supported and executed.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This study gives attention to global bioethics and human rights, an underdeveloped subject within the field of theological ethics. The study overlaps with political science, philosophy (global ethics) and human rights. It joins the discussion in this discipline and supports the promotion of solidarity within this field, which is very important within the health sector in South Africa.

Highlights

  • In 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) accepted the universal bioethical principle and human right of Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights (Rheeder 2017; UNESCO 2005, 2006)

  • For the first time in the history of bioethics, it was expected that solidarity should be taken into account in the global bioethical discourse

  • In the development and acceptance of Article 13 of the UDBHR, the Protestant faith tradition was not involved in the consultation process

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Summary

Introduction

In 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) accepted the universal bioethical principle and human right of Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights (hereafter UDBHR or ‘declaration’) (Rheeder 2017; UNESCO 2005, 2006). The Bioethics Core Curriculum 1, an official guide that is used in global education in the declaration, presents the following workable definition of the concept solidarity (UNESCO 2008): Solidarity as moral value: Group oriented responsibility to care for the weaker and more vulnerable members of the community.

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