1.

Name of committee:

WORKING PARTY ON THE PROTECTION OF THE HUMAN EMBRYO AND FOETUS (CDBI-CO-GT3)

2.

Type of committee:

Committee of Experts

3.

Source of terms of reference:

Steering Committee on Bioethics (CDBI)

4.

Terms of reference:

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i.

ii.

Having regard to:

the Declaration of Warsaw and its Action Plan adopted at the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, held in Warsaw, on 16 and 17 May 2005;

the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (ETS N°164).

Under the authority of the Steering Committee on Bioethics (CDBI), and in relation with the implementation of Project 2004/DGI/129 – Bioethics, of the Programme of Activities, the Working Party is instructed:

to examine the ethical and legal questions related to the protection of the human embryo and foetus; to make proposals (and, where appropriate, alternative proposals) to the CDBI on any question related thereto;

to prepare for the CDBI’s consideration, a draft instrument(s) concerning ethical and legal questions related to the protection of the human embryo and foetus;

5.

Composition of the Committee:

5.A.

5.B.

Members

The Working Party shall be composed of 7 members designated by the CDBI or its Bureau, taking into account the expertises required to address scientific, medical, ethical and legal questions related to the protection of the human embryo and foetus.

The Council of Europe budget will bear the travel and subsistence expenses for the 7 members of the Working Party.

Other Participants

The European Commission may send representatives to meetings of the Working Party without the right to vote or defrayal of expenses.

The other intergovernmental organisations having other participant status with the CDBI may be invited, upon decision of the Working Party or its Chair, to send representatives to participate in meetings of the Working Party, without the right to vote or defrayal of expenses.

6.

Working Methods and Structures

To fulfill its terms of reference, the Working Party or its Chair may seek the advice of experts. The experts may, at the request of the Working Party or its Chair, take part in the works of the Working Party.

This Working Party will only meet upon specific decision by the Committee of Ministers.

7.

Duration

These terms of reference will expire on 31st December 2009.