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U.N. Delays Any Treaty on Human Cloning

Posted on: Thursday, 6 November 2003, 06:00 CST

The United Nations voted narrowly Thursday to delay any treaty banning human cloning, a blow to a U.S. campaign to outlaw all forms of the still-experimental practice.

By a margin of one vote, the General Assembly's legal committee postponed U.N. action until the assembly session that starts in September 2005. Iran had asked for the delay on behalf of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference, saying the United Nations needed time to overcome deep divisions and reach agreement on a treaty that would be universally accepted.

The 80-79 vote, with 15 abstentions, reflected major differences in the 191-nation world body on how far a ban on cloning should go.

Scientists have successfully cloned sheep and other animals. Researchers linked to the Raelians, a religious group, claim to have produced human babies by cloning, but they have not offered proof.

At the United Nations there are two main camps: The United States and about 50 other countries are pushing to ban all forms of human cloning. Fourteen other countries - including Britain, Japan and China - are lobbying for a ban only on production of babies. That would allow scientists to use "stem cells" gathered from human embryo clones for medical treatments.

The vote Friday meant rival resolutions calling for the General Assembly to start drafting a treaty either on a total ban, or a partial ban, were shelved.

"Of course we're disappointed at the outcome of the very close vote," said U.S. deputy ambassador James Cunningham. "We're disappointed that the proponents of the incomplete ban on cloning have been able to use a procedural device to prevent the international community from registering the significant majority that exists in favor of a total ban."

Iran's U.N. legal adviser, Mostafa Dolatyar, told the committee that Islamic ambassadors unanimously asked for the delay "to give adequate time for all member states to study all aspects and ramifications" of what he called "a very complex and delicate question."

"We are deeply concerned that despite all the efforts made, no consensus on the item ... has emerged yet," he said, expressing hope that the legal committee "will come up with a consensual mandate in due course."

Scientists who support cloning to produce human embryos for medical purposes say they hope to use stem cells from the embryos to find cures for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other debilitating diseases.

Stem cells can divide and turn into any kind of cell in the body - raising the possibility of "growing" replacement organs for sick people.

The Roman Catholic Church and anti-abortion groups say stem cell research is tantamount to murder because it starts with the destruction of a human embryo to recover the cells.

France and Germany, which support the partial ban, said in a joint statement that the postponement was "the lesser evil given the present lack of consensus."

Both countries said they consider it "paramount that this subject remains on the agenda of the General Assembly."

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