UN showdown on pact to ban stem cell research

November 16, 2004

UN showdown on pact to ban stem cell

researchhttp://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1 & click_id=117 & art_id=qw110021

3642791B252

November 12 2004 at 01:46AM

By Irwin Arieff

United Nations - Talks at the United Nations appear to have failed to

avert a new UN confrontation over a US-led drive to ban all cloning of human

embryos including for stem cell research, diplomats said on Thursday.

As a result a General Assembly panel is headed for a close vote next

week on a plan for an anti-cloning treaty put forward by the United States

and Costa Rica.

But with support for the plan seen fading in the assembly's

treaty-writing Legal Committee, a last-minute compromise could yet be

reached to avert an up-or-down vote, the envoys said.

A UN treaty so broad that it would ban cloning human embryos for

stem cell

A group of countries led by Belgium opposes the plan for a UN treaty

so broad that it would ban cloning human embryos for stem cell or similar

research - known as " therapeutic cloning " - as well as the cloning of human

beings.

That group has suggested the committee adopt instead a declaration of

principle leaving policy decisions on research cloning to individual

governments.

But three weeks of negotiations, which began before the November 2

American elections in which stem cell research was a major issue, have

failed to lead to a compromise between the Belgian-led group and the rival

group led by the United States and Costa Rica, diplomats said.

" The negotiations are continuing, but a lot of people seem to be

resigned to a vote. It seems there is no possibility to reach an agreement, "

said one diplomat close to the talks.

In the absence of a deal, the committee has scheduled a vote for

November 19, assembly spokesperson Djibril Diallo said.

Cloned human embryos to make stem cells for medical research

Plans for a UN treaty on cloning have been bottled up in the United

Nations since 2001.

While all UN members essentially agree on a treaty that would ban the

cloning of human beings, there is strong support in many nations for the use

of cloned human embryos to make stem cells for medical research.

Many scientists argue the technique holds out the hope of a cure for

hundreds of millions of people with such diseases as Alzheimer's, cancer,

diabetes and spinal cord damage.

But Washington and others seeking to ban all forms of human cloning

say therapeutic cloning is the taking of human life.

The Legal Committee decided in 2003 by a one-vote margin to delay the

writing of any treaty on cloning, concluding it would be unwise to begin

drafting when there was no international consensus on its goals.

The Bush administration is now again pressing for the assembly to

adopt a resolution instructing UN treaty writers to draft a total cloning

ban.

Since 2003, however, several blocs have announced their opposition to

a new vote if the committee remained divided. They have suggested the panel

either find a compromise acceptable to all, or reject the US-Costa Rica plan

in favor of an additional delay.

Bernard Siegel, a Florida attorney organising a global drive to defend

therapeutic cloning, called it " flat-out wrong to condemn this kind of

research when so many people want it. "

" Scientists and patient groups around the world are going to make a

major effort over the next week to fight for therapeutic cloning research to

advance, " he said.

Online Services

FREE Newsletter

Breaking News

Sign In

UN showdown on pact to ban stem cell research

Recommended Posts

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Join the conversation

Support the Ashram

Join Groups

Top Downloads