The International Bioethics and Humanities Conference (IBHC) 2024 successfully commenced at the Alana Hotel, Yogyakarta, bringing together academics, professionals, and practitioners from across the globe to address pressing issues in bioethics, health, and humanities. Held from November 5-8, 2024, the event featured a pre-conference day on November 5 and the main conference from November 6-8.

A group photo with participants at the pre-conference workshop

The pre-conference included workshops on several key topics. “Decolonizing Bioethics” which organized by South-East Asian Bioethics Network (SEABION) focused on the need to prioritize local perspectives in addressing ethical challenges. Another session, “Clinical Ethics Support” introduced tools like Moral Case Deliberation (MCD) to help healthcare professionals handle ethical dilemmas and make better decisions. This session was delivered by Professor Albert Molewijk from Amsterdam UMC. A workshop on “Palliative and End-of-Life Care” highlighted the importance of compassionate communication, involving family and spirituality to provide better support for patients. There was also a session on “Pelatihan dan Pengembangan Komite Etik Penelitian” which covered how to build strong, independent committees to oversee ethical research, especially in the era of big data and advanced technology.

Participants engaging in discussions during the pre-conference workshop at IBHC 2024.

Opening remarks by Professor Dr. Sharon Kaur from South-East Asia Bioethics Network

The pre-conference activities contributed to advancing several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Discussions on palliative care and ethical health research aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by improving patient care and societal health outcomes. Comprehensive bioethics training supported SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing healthcare professionals’ capacities and ethical research practices. The principles of transparency, accountability, and cross-disciplinary collaboration emphasized throughout the sessions reflected SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

The pre-conference set the stage for deeper discussions on how ethics can shape better healthcare and research practices. By bringing people from different fields together, IBHC 2024 aims to inspire more compassionate, fair, and sustainable approaches to healthcare around the world.