Welcome to Coimbra!
Founded in 1290, the University of Coimbra has
been listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site since June 2013.
The University of Coimbra shaped
the character of the Portuguese Speaking countries, notably Brazil. This
historical relationship has nowadays a renewed interested with over 10% of the students
coming from the biggest South American country. Coimbra is a University town
with a cosmopolitan flavor, which attracts students and researchers
worldwide, from China to Morocco, from East-Timor to Colombia.
The Faculties of Law and Medicine
have a prominent role in the University and in the City. Medical Law has been
developing for a long period of time with its roots found back in the beginning
of the 20th Century with the first discipline on Law and Deontology of Pharmacists.
Later, in 1988, the Faculty of Law founded the Centre for Biomedical law,
a European standard research institution in the field. In the last 20 years,
the Faculty of Medicine also includes Medical law, together with Medical Ethics
and Deontology, in its curriculum. Coimbra has one of the biggest Hospitals in
Portugal, which is very active in clinical research and education at a European
level.
Thus, when you come, you will find
an intellectual and spiritual environment and background for debating and
studying Medical Law.
The best reason to come to Coimbra is to listen and to discuss with almost
200 speakers, coming from over 40 countries, from the 5 Continents, with very
high-level presentations concerning the fields of (1) Ageing & Health Law; (2) Information
Technologies & Health Law; (3) Migrations
& Health Law, as well as very interesting presentation on general
topics of Medical law.
Moreover, we are very happy to accommodate a superb Congress on Islamic Bioethics, on August 5th
and 6th.
There is also a very enjoyable social program, with a welcome
reception by the pool and feeling the breeze of the Mondego River, Sunday evening;
a terrific night tour to the World
Heritage University, Monday evening;
a wonderful town reception in the Cloisters of the Convent where the founder of
the Portuguese Nation (D. Afonso Henriques) lies – the Church of Saint Cross, Tuesday
evening and, finally, a nice Gala Dinner with Portuguese traditional
music - Fado – by the pool,
illuminated by the moon, in a warm mid-summer night, Thursday evening…
Pre and Post Conference tours are very easy to organize, since
Portugal is a welcoming country for tourism, with high-quality infrastructure
to receive friends and colleagues from all cultures and creeds. Be it sun and sand
or history and monuments; or adventure and mountains – all of this can be found
near Coimbra, less than 1 or 2 hours away.
I hope to see you on
August 2nd evening, by the pool, at Hotel Vila Galé, in Coimbra!
Prof. Dr. André Dias Pereira
Program Chair - 21st WCML
