UN Report: Human Cloning Ban Needed

November 12, 2007

The international community faces a stark choice: outlaw human cloning or prepare for the creation of cloned humans, U.N. researchers said Saturday. Previous attempts to reach a binding worldwide treaty foundered over divisions on whether to outlaw all cloning or permit cloning of cells for research. . . .

Almost all countries oppose human cloning and more than 50 nations have introduced laws banning it. But lack of binding global legislation gives scientists an opening to create human clones in countries where bans do not exist. “Failure to outlaw reproductive cloning means it is just a matter of time until cloned individuals share the planet,” said Brendan Tobin, a human rights lawyer who co-authored the report. (Washingtonpost.com)