UNESCO Office in Doha

A major objective of this meeting is to start a process leading to a skeleton for a

“Declaration on Ethics of Nanotechnologies in Arab States” to be finalized by UNESCO in full consultation with other relevant regional agencies and the global ethics of science community.

Other objectives of the meeting are:

    • To initiate a regional dialogue on the scientific, ethical and religious aspects of nanotechnologies;
    • To discuss appropriate approaches to build capacity to address ethical issues of nanotechnologies in the region;
    • To discuss the mechanism to assess and manage the risks and benefits of nanotechnologies;
    • To discuss the role of education and sensitizing the public to the issues of nanotechnologies;
    • To  explore  the  possibility  to  establish  regional  and  international  cooperation to address issues of research on nanotechnologies.

The conference will feature distinguished guests like Alain Pompidou (Chairperson of World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST)) and Philippe Busquin (Member of European Parliament, former EU Commissioner for Research).

Eminent invited international and regional experts will discuss five main issues during the conference sessions. These sessions are as follows:

1. Rapid Development and Global Impact of Nanotechnology
2. Risk Management of Nanotechnologies
3. Social and Cultural Implications of Nanotechnologies
4. Nanotechnology and Ethics in the Arab World
5. Using and Misusing Nanotechnologies Application of Nanotechnologies

This Conference will take place during 18 – 19 May 2009 in Millennium Hotel in Doha, Qatar.

For more information please contact:
Ms Orio Ikebe
Ms Mona Abdel Sattar

Concept Paper




Nanotechnologies and Ethics -Policies and Actions- COMEST Policy Recommendations can be found at the following link .