Paris, April 2 (No.2001-51) - UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura today recalled the fact that reproductive human cloning was banned by the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, which was unanimously adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference in 1997 and endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1998.

Against the background of American Congressional hearings on human cloning and of a bill banning such practices in the United States, Mr Matsuura reacted to declarations made by supporters of reproductive human cloning:

“Human cloning is already banned in 26 countries and in parts of the United States. Some nevertheless declare they wish to overstep this ban and to carry out experiments that are both irresponsible and contrary to human dignity. I wish to recall Article 11 of the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights [according to which] ‘practices which are contrary to human dignity, such as reproductive cloning of human beings, shall not be permitted. States and competent international organizations are invited to co-operate in identifying such practices and taking, at national or international level, the measures necessary to ensure that the principles set out in this Declaration are respected.’”

The Director-General of UNESCO also stressed that the Declaration of 1997, while reaffirming the principle of free scientific research, stipulates that neither research on human cloning nor its applications, must outweigh concern for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human dignity.

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