U.N. panel OKs call for ban on human cloning
- Feb 28, 2005 - comment
The United Nations’ legal committee passed Feb. 18 a resolution calling on all countries to enact comprehensive bans on human cloning.
The panel voted 71-35, with 43 abstentions, to urge U.N. members to “prohibit all forms of human cloning inasmuch as they are incompatible with human dignity and the protection of human life.” The recommendation will go to the U.N.’s General Assembly for consideration.
The declaration is nonbinding and fell short of a treaty supported by the United States and more than 60 allies that would have mandated a ban on cloning for both reproductive and research purposes. While U.N. members are united in supporting a prohibition on reproductive cloning, some countries oppose a ban on research cloning, which results in the destruction of embryos.
“It’s an important first step in the right direction in raising the awareness of the conscience of the world that this is a dangerous scientific practice that must face worldwide condemnation,” said Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
Great Britain and Belgium, leaders of the opposition to the resolution, said it would not affect their policies in support of research cloning.
The U.N. has been embroiled in a three-year battle over a cloning ban, with Costa Rica leading a pro-comprehensive ban contingent that outnumbered its foes by three to one. In November, however, the legal committee agreed to consider a nonbinding resolution in February after the impasse on a binding treaty could not be overcome.
Proponents of research cloning defend its legalization primarily for the purpose of extracting stem cells from embryos, which are destroyed in the process.