| Date | 19 November 2002 |
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Agenda item 162
International convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings
Report of the Sixth Committee (A/57/569)
The President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 14 of its report.
The Sixth Committee adopted the draft decision without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The President
I give the floor to the representative of the United States, who wishes to speak in explanation of position on the decision just adopted.
Mr. Martinez (United States)
The United States is pleased to join consensus on this procedural decision, which will enable the Sixth Committee to continue discussion of a convention on cloning during the next session of the General Assembly. We note that subparagraph (b) of the decision sets forth the mandate for the next session in neutral terms. The Working Group will continue the work undertaken during this session, which has focused on the scope of a future convention.
The United States and many other Member States support a total ban on human cloning. We are hopeful that future discussions will advance the work on this topic and enable us to begin work on a convention to ban all cloning of human embryos. Although the item has been re-inscribed on the agenda under its current title, this in no way prejudges the outcome of those discussions, especially since many scientists point out that all cloning that creates human embryos is, in effect, reproductive.
Our focus in these discussions has been and remains the elaboration of a comprehensive ban on human cloning. We believe that the growing support for a total ban signals that a course correction is under way and that the trend towards a total ban will forge a clear path towards a convention to prohibit all cloning of human embryos.
The President
May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 162?
