Giovanni Berlinguer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Giovanni Berlinguer
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| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 14 June 2004 – 2009 |
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| Constituency | North-East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 July 1924 Sassari, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 6 April 2015 (aged 90) Rome, Italy |
| Political party | Democratici di Sinistra |
| Profession | University professor |
Giovanni Berlinguer (born July 9, 1924 – died April 6, 2015) was an important Italian politician, a thinker, and a professor. He taught about how health affects society.
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Who Was Giovanni Berlinguer?
Giovanni Berlinguer was born in Sassari, a city on the island of Sardinia, Italy. His father was Mario Berlinguer. Giovanni became a doctor and a professor. He taught about public health, which is about keeping communities healthy. He worked at the University of Sassari and later at the University "La Sapienza" in Rome.
A Career in Politics
Like his brother Enrico, Giovanni was a key person in the Italian Communist Party, a political group in Italy. He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies (a part of the Italian Parliament) three times: in 1972, 1976, and 1979. He was also elected to the Senate (the other part of the Italian Parliament) in 1983 and 1987.
Working in the European Parliament
From 2004 to 2009, Giovanni Berlinguer was a Member of the European Parliament. This means he helped make laws for all the countries in the European Union. He was part of the Party of European Socialists group. When the Parliament met in 2004, he was the oldest member there. Because of this, he led the meeting when they chose the President of the European Parliament.
Helping with Health and Ethics
Giovanni Berlinguer worked hard to improve health for everyone. He helped create the first National Health Plan in Italy in 1968. This plan was part of a bigger program to help Italy's economy grow. He was also a member of the National Health Council from 1994 to 1996.
Guiding Bioethics Discussions
He was also very involved in bioethics. This field looks at the right and wrong ways to use science and medicine. He was the chairman of the National Bioethics Committee (CNB) in Italy from 1999 to 2001. He also worked with the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee and the World Health Organisation (WHO). He helped write the first draft of the UNESCO "Universal Declaration on Bioethics" in 2003.
Giovanni Berlinguer believed that bioethics should not just focus on big, new scientific questions. He thought it should also look at everyday health issues. He wrote a book called Bioetica quotidiana (Everyday Bioethics) in 2000. He wanted everyone, not just experts, to be part of these important discussions. He died in Rome when he was 90 years old.
Special Recognitions
Giovanni Berlinguer received several important honors:
- He was given the title of Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI. This is a very high honor in Italy.
- He received an Doctorat honoris causa (an honorary degree) from the Université de Montréal in Canada in 1996.
- He also received an honorary degree from the University of Brasilia in Brazil in 1999.
Learn More
- 2004 European Parliament election in Italy
In Spanish: Giovanni Berlinguer para niños
