International convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings

South Africa, for its part, is against reproductive human cloning.

56 93. International convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings

Mr. Lovald (Norway) The Norwegian Government opposes both reproductive cloning of human beings and cloning for therapeutic purposes.

(a) Member States are called upon to prohibit the reproductive cloning of human beings they are also called upon to prohibit other forms of human cloning inasmuch as they are incompatible with human dignity

Belgium voted against the Declaration because it makes no distinction between reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning.

It is essential that reproductive cloning be categorically prohibited.

We are convinced that there is a clear consensus in favour of the prohibition of the reproductive cloning of human beings.

7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty seventh session the item entitled International convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings .

However, it should be stressed that the Chinese Government will maintain its stance against reproductive human cloning and will strengthen its regulation and control of research into therapeutic cloning in order to ensure that human dignity and the internationally shared ethical concept of human life will not be undermined.

We also believe that the text of the resolution does not cover the fundamental and well known differences that exist between reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning.

For example, Singapore has not only consistently advocated the move to ban reproductive cloning, but we have gone ahead and introduced our own legislation to ban reproductive cloning and to strictly regulate all activities that might result in it.

My country remains convinced that, given the threat of dangerous experimentation that would represent an assault on human dignity, it is essential urgently to prohibit reproductive cloning.

In recent years, the World Health Assembly has addressed a number of specific issues in the field of biotechnology, such as genomics, transplantation and human reproductive cloning.

Particularly concerned, in the context of practices which are contrary to human dignity, at recently disclosed information on the research being conducted with a view to the reproductive cloning of human beings,

In accordance with the Declaration, States will adopt relevant legislation which prohibits reproductive cloning but which allows, within the relevant legal framework, the development of therapeutic cloning.

Mr. Zhang Yishan (China) (spoke in Chinese) Like many other countries, China supports the Assembly's efforts to negotiate an international convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings.

United Nations Declaration on Human Cloning

a known human reproductive toxicant, or a presumed human reproductive toxicant? .

The General Assembly has missed another opportunity to adopt a convention prohibiting reproductive cloning. Why is that so?

My delegation remains fully opposed to reproductive cloning owing to the doubtful nature of its safety, success, utility and ethical acceptability.

My delegation also regrets that the Sixth Committee has deviated from its original mandate to establish a ban on reproductive cloning.

United Nations On December 13, 2001, the United Nations General Assembly began elaborating an international convention against the reproductive cloning of humans.

Four years ago, the General Assembly adopted resolution 56 93, endorsing the noble initiative put forward by France and Germany to begin work on an international convention to ban the reproductive cloning of human beings.

We voted against the political Declaration on Human Cloning because some of its provisions could be interpreted as a call for a total ban on all forms of human cloning.

There was then and there still is today unanimity in this House that reproductive cloning is an abhorrent prospect and must be banned unequivocally.

The Spanish Government firmly opposes the reproductive cloning of human beings, but its position is different with regard to therapeutic cloning, which will probably be viewed positively in the draft law on biomedical research that is currently being formulated by the Government of Spain and will be submitted for consideration by Parliament in due course.

Mr. Peersman (Netherlands) The Netherlands voted against the draft Declaration on Human Cloning because it can be interpreted as a call for a total ban on all forms of human cloning.

Unable to reach a consensus on a binding convention, in March 2005 a non binding United Nations Declaration on Human Cloning, calling for the ban of all forms of human cloning contrary to human dignity, was adopted.

Human cloning for therapeutic purposes would seek to reverse that natural order of things.

From the outset, my delegation warned that the creation of a simple and straightforward dichotomy between so called reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning was leading us towards an excessive simplification of the question, given all of the unknown factors that science has yet to uncover.

Sir Emyr Jones Parry (United Kingdom) The United Kingdom voted against the draft Declaration on Human Cloning because of the reference to human life, which we consider can be interpreted as a call for a total ban on all forms of human cloning.

At the same time, on account of the apparent doubts expressed during the discussion as to the interpretation of some of the provisions of the Declaration, my delegation would like to declare that Poland unequivocally and firmly opposes reproductive cloning of human embryos.

prohibit all forms of human cloning inasmuch as they are incompatible with human dignity and the protection of human life (resolution 59 280).

We will now take action on the draft resolution entitled United Nations Declaration on Human Cloning .

In conclusion, the Nigerian delegation would like to stress again that human cloning is unethical and a direct assault on human dignity.

This is a step forward towards a future convention that would prohibit all forms of human cloning.

1. Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, open to all States Members of the United Nations or members of specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, for the purpose of considering the elaboration of an international convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings

Mr. Gandhi (India) My delegation deeply regrets that the Sixth Committee was unable to recommend to the General Assembly a text that was acceptable to all Member States on a matter of paramount importance such as an international convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings.

The Russian Federation voted in favour of the draft resolution before us today, guided by the need to send a clear signal to the international community on the impermissibility of reproductive cloning.

Paragraph (b) of the Declaration solemnly calls on States to prohibit human cloning inasmuch as it is incompatible with human dignity and the protection of human life.

Ms. Katungye (Uganda) Uganda voted in favour of the draft Declaration on Human Cloning because, as a nation, we are firmly opposed to all forms of cloning that involve the destruction of embryonic stem cells and erode respect for and the protection of human dignity.

Japan will go forward with the implementation of therapeutic cloning research under strict conditions, while fully respecting human dignity.

Nevertheless, the Declaration represents a further step towards the adoption of a truly universal approach to regulating human cloning.

Although certain elements of the Declaration are in line with Canadian national law, such as the prohibition of reproductive cloning, the ambiguity of the Declaration's language could give rise to certain legal and political concerns.