Global bioethics is a bold project. In its moderate form, it aims to find solutions to the dilemmas posed by modern medicine and the biological sciences through intercultural understanding of human obligations and opportunities. In its more ambitious form, it endeavors to cover all possible ethical problems arising with regard to life and living things on earth. Given the ambitiousness of even the moderate aim, it is unsurprising that disputes are frequent and agreements are scarce. One of the most contentious issues is whether human rights should play an important role in global bioethics or not.A longer version of this discussion paper will appear as “The Future of Human Rights—Human Rights and Bioethics.” In: van den Anker, C Smith R, eds. Essential Guide to Human Rights. London: Hodder Arnold; forthcoming in 2005.