The
The German Ethics Council is an independent national ethics commission that deals with ethical, social, scientific, medical, and legal questions, particularly in the context of life sciences and their application to humans.
The main mission of the German Ethics Council is to provide guidance for society and politics on ethical issues. The Council represents different ethical approaches and a pluralistic spectrum of opinions to ensure comprehensive and diverse consultation. The members of the Ethics Council perform their duties personally and independently and represent a wide range of scientific, medical, theological, philosophical, ethical, social, economic, and legal interests[2][4][5].
The German Ethics Council places great importance on long-term and sustainable consultation on ethical issues. Through its annual reports and statements, it contributes to the integration of ethical considerations in political and legislative processes. The Council also promotes international cooperation to develop and support global ethical standards and guidelines[2][4].
The German Ethics Council consists of 26 members who are appointed by the President of the German Bundestag upon the proposal of the German Bundestag and the Federal Government. The members may not be active members of the Bundestag or the Federal Government and serve in a voluntary capacity. The Council elects its chair and vice-chair in a secret ballot for a term of four years, with one re-election possible[2][4][5].
The German Ethics Council was established on the basis of the law for the establishment of the German Ethics Council (Ethics Council Act) on August 1, 2007, and began its work on April 11, 2008. It is the successor to the National Ethics Council, which was founded in 2001 and dissolved in 2008[1][4].
