Review article
https://doi.org/10.21860/j.11.2.13
A brief historical overview of bioethical activism in Croatia – as an impetus for the development of an educational model of bioethical activism
Ivica Kelam
orcid.org/0000-0001-9087-0314
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Centre for integrative bioethics, Trg Sv. Trojstva 3, 31000 Osijek, Croatia.
Abstract
There has been a universal agreement in the last couple of decades that bioethics education at
all levels should be provided to citizens through the adoption of the Universal Declaration on
the Human Genome and Human Rights by the UNESCO General Conference in 1997 and
by the United Nations General Assembly in 1998. The work of bioethical educators in moral
and (bio)ethical values was applied to the issues raised by modern science and technology. The
process of learning is also recognized as being the result of complex interacting influences.
Teaching in a bioethical context must recognize these interconnections because of the
internal application to and impact on peoples’ lives. Furthermore, teaching in a bioethical
context needs to use pedagogies that engage students in participatory activities to enable the
development of multiple dimensions of knowledge. These dimensions include the scientific
content as well as the personal, social, and emotional aspects associated with any particular
bioethical issue. Therefore, it is crucial to highlight the importance of focusing on the
nature of the controversy, recognizing that opinions are based on particular worldviews and
critical reflection of personal views, as well as promoting open-mindedness or willingness to
accommodate new views and develop a new bioethical perspective on life. The paper presents
several examples of bioethical activism in Croatia that provided an impetus for teaching
students in bioethical activism at the Faculty of Education. I will mention an example of the
inclusion of the NGO Pobjede in a bioethical course on the subject of the ethical relation
to animals. An example of NGO Pobjede activity was a stimulating example of bioethical
activism for students.
Keywords
bioethics, bioethical education, bioethical activism, NGO Pobjede, students
Hrčak ID:
251868
URI
Publication date:
24.12.2020.
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