From 28 September to 2 October 2026, UNESCO hosted the 33rd Ordinary Session of the IBC, the Joint Session of the IBC and the IGBC, and the 14th Extraordinary Session of COMEST in Paris.
In his opening speech, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany highlighted the longstanding role of the three bodies in informing collective responses that protect human rights, promote sustainability and ensure ethical principles are at the heart of policymaking: “Together, your work helps UNESCO anticipate emerging challenges and prepare collective responses.”
This year, the IBC and COMEST began their reflections on two areas of growing importance: ageing and longevity in a changing world, and the product of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and the concept of knowledge. During their public session with the IGBC, the Committees benefited from Member States’ inputs. Both aim to adopt their final reports in 2027.
Ageing and longevity in a changing world
The IBC is advancing its work on “Ageing and longevity in a changing world: Ethical and Human Rights concerns”, examining loneliness and social isolation, economic insecurity, digital exclusion, unequal access to healthcare and social protection, and barriers to autonomy and self-determination.
The work also considers advances in longevity science, AI and robotics, exploring equitable access to longer lives and the rights to health, dignity and well-being, while recognizing older people as individuals with agency and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to society.
The product of generative AI and the concept of knowledge
COMEST is advancing its work on “The product of generative Artificial Intelligence and the concept of knowledge: Ethical considerations”, examining how generative AI transforms the ways knowledge is produced, shared and accessed.
This raises fundamental questions about what constitutes knowledge in an increasingly AI-mediated environment, who or what can be considered a legitimate and accountable outputs
The work considers how generative AI can contribute to knowledge and inclusion while safeguarding critical judgement, rigour and human accountability underpinning reliable knowledge.
On 28 September, the public meeting included a session on implementing the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology, adopted in 2025. Two panels brought together Member States and experts to exchange good practices and discuss progress and priorities for implementation, building on UNESCO’s experience with the 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and its Readiness Assessment Methodology, with support from an international high-level expert group.
The IBC also held a side event, “Mirror Life Governance: A Science-Policy Briefing”, convened by UNU-CPR and the UNESCO Secretariat, with support from the Mirror Biology Dialogues Fund. Nobel Laureate Thomas Südhof, Ariel Lindner and experts explored the scientific and governance challenges of mirror life, including the proposed global moratorium on creating mirror cells outlined in the IBC’s 2025 report on synthetic biology.
More information:
International Bioethics Committee (IBC)
World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology
IBC Concept Note on Aging and Longevity in a Changing WorldCOMEST Concept Note on the Product of Generative AI and the Concept of Knowledg…
