The UK, one of the world leaders in stem cell research, says it will ignore the UN ban on human cloning -
Britain Says it will Ignore UN Human Cloning Ban - Vote November 19th
UNITED NATIONS, November 12, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Attempts by Belgium to scuttle a vote on a Costa-Rica sponsored comprehensive ban on human cloning have thus far failed thanks to strong pressure from the United States and other countries supporting the Costa Rican proposal. The vote is thus scheduled for November 19.
Sam Singson, a pro-life lobbyist at the UN, told LifeSiteNews.com that with over 60 countries backing a total ban on human cloning and only about 20 countries supporting the Belgian proposal to ban reproductive cloning and allow human cloning for research purposes, the comprehensive ban is very likely to pass.
The strong possibility of a UN proposed ban on all human cloning puts avant-garde nations which have already commenced human cloning in an awkward position. Such nations have typically badgered morally conservative nations into acceptance of United Nations committee recommendations which prescribe abortion, contraception, sex-education and expanded gay rights. However, with a comprehensive ban on cloning, countries such as Britain, South Africa, Belgium, and China will find themselves outside the UN convention. New Zealand and Switzerland are also well on their way to legalizing human cloning for research purposes.
The UK, which was the first country to shock the world with its permission to clone human beings for research, has been quick to say it would reject a UN ban on cloning. Using strong language, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, the British representative to the UN said on October 21:
"We have every confidence that the United Nations will reject the Costa Rican proposal that seeks to impose a single dogmatic and inflexible viewpoint on the rest of the world and overturn decisions which have been legitimately taken by other national governments. But the UK government wishes to make it clear that should the United Nations proceed to develop a convention banning both therapeutic and reproductive human cloning, we would not participate in the negotiation of such a convention and we would not sign up to it. Therapeutic cloning research will continue to be permitted in the UK."
Singson commented on the strident UK position saying, "We've seen time and time again how UN committees with UK representation issue directives to sovereign nations about the need to legalize abortion. More than that, European and Canadian representatives have looked down upon nations such as Poland, the United States, Slovakia and Malta which have at times shunned UN recommendations. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I doubt very much the UK and its cloning allies will suffer similar condescension."
jhw
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Britain Says it will Ignore UN Human Cloning Ban - Vote November 19th
UNITED NATIONS, November 12, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Attempts by Belgium to scuttle a vote on a Costa-Rica sponsored comprehensive ban on human cloning have thus far failed thanks to strong pressure from the United States and other countries supporting the Costa Rican proposal. The vote is thus scheduled for November 19.
Sam Singson, a pro-life lobbyist at the UN, told LifeSiteNews.com that with over 60 countries backing a total ban on human cloning and only about 20 countries supporting the Belgian proposal to ban reproductive cloning and allow human cloning for research purposes, the comprehensive ban is very likely to pass.
The strong possibility of a UN proposed ban on all human cloning puts avant-garde nations which have already commenced human cloning in an awkward position. Such nations have typically badgered morally conservative nations into acceptance of United Nations committee recommendations which prescribe abortion, contraception, sex-education and expanded gay rights. However, with a comprehensive ban on cloning, countries such as Britain, South Africa, Belgium, and China will find themselves outside the UN convention. New Zealand and Switzerland are also well on their way to legalizing human cloning for research purposes.
The UK, which was the first country to shock the world with its permission to clone human beings for research, has been quick to say it would reject a UN ban on cloning. Using strong language, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, the British representative to the UN said on October 21:
"We have every confidence that the United Nations will reject the Costa Rican proposal that seeks to impose a single dogmatic and inflexible viewpoint on the rest of the world and overturn decisions which have been legitimately taken by other national governments. But the UK government wishes to make it clear that should the United Nations proceed to develop a convention banning both therapeutic and reproductive human cloning, we would not participate in the negotiation of such a convention and we would not sign up to it. Therapeutic cloning research will continue to be permitted in the UK."
Singson commented on the strident UK position saying, "We've seen time and time again how UN committees with UK representation issue directives to sovereign nations about the need to legalize abortion. More than that, European and Canadian representatives have looked down upon nations such as Poland, the United States, Slovakia and Malta which have at times shunned UN recommendations. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I doubt very much the UK and its cloning allies will suffer similar condescension."
jhw
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