Vila Nova de Gaia Regional Forum: Reflecting on Ethics, Inclusion and Public Policies – 14 April
Within the framework of the “National Bioethics Initiative”, an initiative of the National Council of Ethics for the Life Sciences (CNECV), the Vila Nova de Gaia Regional Forum took place on 14 April 2026, at the Training Room of the Gaia Biological Park. The event began at 2:00 pm and concluded at 6:30 pm, under the title “The National Council of Ethics in Question”, focusing on the theme “The Power of Different Stories”. The main objective was to foster reflection and dialogue on the role and mission of the CNECV, gathering contributions and perspectives from various stakeholders in civil society, with particular emphasis on areas such as mental health, disability and neurodivergence support, and social inclusion.
The session, organised by Councillor Paula Pinto de Freitas, included the participation of Councillors Miguel Ricou, Pedro Fevereiro and Rosalvo Almeida. The opening featured remarks by the Councillor for Social Affairs of Vila Nova de Gaia City Council, Elizabete Silva, followed by an intervention from the Municipal Director for the Environment, Nuno Gomes Oliveira.
Following these contributions, Paula Pinto de Freitas outlined the objectives of the initiative, after which Pedro Fevereiro presented the “National Bioethics Initiative”.
The discussion was structured around three roundtables with the following moderators and invited speakers:
• Roundtable 1 (Moderator: Paula Pinto de Freitas): Alexandre Quintanilha (ICBAS-UP), Elizabete Silva (Vila Nova de Gaia City Council) and Ana Maria Gonçalves (APPDA Norte)
• Roundtable 2 (Moderator: Miguel Ricou): Jorge Sobrado (Porto City Council), Ana Sofia Pinto (ULSSA) and Marylin Oliveira (International Solidarity Association)
• Roundtable 3 (Moderator: Rosalvo Almeida): Constança Paúl (ICBAS-UP) and Jerónimo Sousa (Gaia Vocational Rehabilitation Centre)
The 17 representatives from different sectors of society present at this Regional Forum — including academics, health and justice professionals, local decision-makers and leaders of social solidarity and inclusion organisations — discussed the need to humanise technology and Artificial Intelligence, ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of empathy and the “human time” required in healthcare.
Critical issues such as combating stigma in ageing and neurodivergence were also addressed, as well as the challenges faced by private social solidarity institutions. Participants further reflected on the role of local authorities in bringing ethics closer to citizens, and on the importance of strengthening the visibility and direct influence of the CNECV in public policy.
Image credits: Vila Nova de Gaia City Council
