1. Bioethics Network on Women’s Issues in the Arab Region 8 December 2011 Cairo 8 December 2011 Cairo Orio Ikebe UNESCO Cairo Office Orio Ikebe UNESCO Cairo Office

2. Blog of Bioethics Network on Women’s Issues http://bioethicsnetwork.wordpress.com/ arab.bioethics@unesco.org (There are English page and Arabic page. If possible in the future in French as well)

4. Women’s health related issues Reproductive technology and health Health care access and gender Quality of health care Child protection Organ donation Female genital mutilation Abortion Contraception Topics addressed in this network Social, cultural and economical impact on women and health Literacy and health Poverty Issues Pre-Marital Genetic Test

5. Research involving women’s participation Research ethics Stem cell research Application of bioethical principles in the region Informed consent Confidentiality Counseling Right of women Right to know and not to know Health care professionals and health care system Doctor-patient relationship Nursing ethics Social workers

6. Option 1: subscribe your e-mail - You will receive notification when there is a new post in the blog. - You are able to comments on the blog Option 2: Register in the blog - We will invite you to be an author of the blog - We ask your profile and you will be listed as a member of the network How to be a member and contribute to the blog?

9. Members of the Network Open to any body and institutions wishes to contribute to achieve the objectives of the network Currently 20 individual experts from the region and outside the region There is no institution member yet

10. Draft Mission Recognizing the social, cultural, religious and economical situations surrounding the women in the Arab world; Recognizing the universal values of bioethics; Promoting equity and justice in medical treatment, health care and research; Safeguarding the human dignity and human rights of women; Assisting in enhancement of the well-being of the women in the Arab world through promotion.

11. Draft Objectives Connect academic institutions, regional and international organizations, media and NGOs as well as experts, scholars, students and general public who are working in the field of bioethics in relation to women’s issues; Promote dialogues through education and advocacy, exchange information, conduct research in view of enhancing the well-being of women in the Arab world.

12. Questions about members How to reach out experts and institutions in the region? Is there a need to establish criteria to be a member? Is there a need for different categories of members? (board members, observers, etc.) What are the obligations for the members? What are the interests to join the network?

13. Questions about structure and function What will be the structure of the network? (e.g. Secretariat, Board, Working group, etc.) What will be the activities of the network? (e.g. periodical conference, newsletter, online discussion, research, organizing workshops, etc.)

14. What is the next step? What can be the immediate action we can take after this conference? What are the issues to continue discussion? What is the long term agenda of the network?