By Holy See Mission
Statement byH.E.
Archbishop Celestino MiglioreApostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the U.N.on
Agenda Item 158:International Convention against the Reproductive Cloning of Human
BeingsNew York, 30 September 2003Mr.
Chairman,
On behalf of my
Delegation, allow me to congratulate you and other members of the Bureau
on your
election. We stand ready to cooperate with you and all other delegations
in
deliberating and deciding upon this important issue regarding human
cloning.
The item on human cloning
has been on our agenda for over two years now. Its multifaceted impact
on the
very life of all humanity as well as on convictions rooted in different
cultures
requires a common set of clear benchmarks that expeditiously address all
of the
issues concerning human cloning. In order to contribute to the debate in
a
constructive manner, my delegation has presented its views in a position
paper,
that offers some parameters within which the debate could possibly
unfold. The
position paper has been circulated by this Working Group under document
symbol,
A/C.6/WG/CRP.1, which is now before you.
While virtually all
delegations stand in opposition to reproductive cloning, there is a
diversity of
views on the so-called “therapeutic” cloning; however, we must
understand as
clearly as we can that the distinction between the two is superficial.
Mr.
Chairman,
We do need to support the
advancement of human biological sciences to the benefit of all members
of the
human family. To this end, the Holy See supports the procurement of
human
“adult” stem cells as well as the use, for research or experimental
purposes, of
the “adult” stem cells, and of material derived from them, when it is
pursued in
a way that does not offend human dignity and, if applied clinically,
respects
the principle of informed consent. Procuring, investigating, and
developing
potential therapies with “adult” stem cells, as far as is known, is a
scientific
course that holds great promise.
On the other end of the
spectrum, the cloning of human embryos to produce stem cells for
potential
therapeutic use has not only failed to demonstrate any verifiable
scientific
promise, it also raises serious ethical questions. The
experimental or
research cloning of embryonic stem cells requires the production of
millions of
human embryos with the intention of destroying them as part of the
process of
using them for scientific research. The early human embryo, not yet
implanted
into a womb, is nonetheless a human individual, with a human life, and
evolving
as an autonomous organism toward its full development. Destroying this
embryo
results in a deliberate suppression of an innocent human life.
Mr.
Chairman,
My delegation is of the
view that any possible attempt to limit a ban on human cloning to that
undertaken for reproductive purposes would be nearly impossible to
enforce
simply because human embryos cloned for research purposes would be
widely
available and would have the potential to be brought to birth. Since
human
reproductive cloning is universally condemned, only a complete ban on
all forms
of human embryonic cloning would achieve the goal of prohibiting human
reproductive cloning.
There are other grave
ethical problems which are of concern to my delegation. In the first
place, if
“research” cloning with embryos were permitted, it would require, to be
effective, a large number of human eggs or oocytes. The process of
obtaining
these eggs, which is not without risk, would use women’s bodies as mere
reservoirs of oocytes, instrumentalizing women and undermining their
dignity. In
the second place, the massive demand for human oocytes would
disproportionately
affect the poor and marginalized women of the world bringing a new type
of
injustice, victimization and discrimination into existence.
Furthermore, a partial ban
on “reproductive” cloning would only encourage the development of
commerce in
cloned human embryos and their derivatives for scientific research or
for
industrial research and related development purposes.
Mr.
Chairman,
These points lead to one
logical conclusion: only a comprehensive convention on human cloning,
that would
address all these issues and not just reproductive cloning, will be able
to
respond to the challenges of the twenty-first century on this issue.
Situations
that pose grave dangers to human dignity can only be effectively
addressed by
international agreements that are comprehensive, not partial. While a
partial
agreement might address immediately some issues related to human
cloning, it
could generate more problems. The most durable solution should therefore
be an
all-inclusive legal instrument. In fact, comprehensive conventions are
not at
all new to this Organization and lately they would even seem to be the
preferred
legal instrument. Moreover, an all-inclusive convention could provide a
legal
instrument that would sufficiently enable States to formulate
appropriate
domestic legislation on human cloning. For all these reasons, my
delegation
wishes to reiterate its fundamental position that only a comprehensive
convention will be able to address all issues related to human cloning.
Mr.
Chairman,
As we debate this
important issue, let us remain positive in our outlook and constructive
in our
objective. In this spirit, my delegation shares the view of many others
that the
procurement and use of human “adult” stem cells, is a moral and sound
way to
help all, not just some, human beings. With the passage of each day,
their great
scientific promise increases. Do we really want to render an effective
and
timely service to many of our fellow human beings suffering from
incurable
diseases? I am sure we all do. Let’s give a powerful signal in that
direction.
In this context, let me
recall here an old and wise principle of conduct. When, in an
effort to
advance human science or to help human beings in need, one faces a
choice
between an unobjectionable means, such as “adult” stem cells, and a
means that
is universally recognized as raising profound ethical questions, such as
“research” cloning, prudence dictates choosing only the unobjectionable
means.
For these reasons,
the Holy See seeks a complete and explicit prohibition of all techniques
of
creating new individual human embryos by cloning.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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