[Lawtonia]

I would like to put forward and idea for a UN resolution. Its just an idea at this stage but the effects could be proufound and may even increase prestige to our region. I had no ideas on how to formulate my thoughts about this issue so I just jotted down a series of questions which could be answered through a resolution on Genetic Rights - yes i know its another rights resolution but the issues are important because it isn't covered in previous resolutions. These are the questions i thought needed to be answered:

Who owns my DNA?
Is my DNA a tradeable commodity?
What Protection do I have if my DNA is stolen and used for criminal or commercial purposes without my knowledge?
Do I own my child's DNA?
Do I have the right to have a "designer" child in order to provide a part for my other sick child?
Who owns The Human Genome?
Can I be discriminated against because of my genetic heritage?
Under what circumstances would I have to disclose my genetic heritage?
If my DNA contains a genetic defect which I could pass on to my children - do I have the right to a "Designer Baby"?
If I am adopted - do I have the right to know my genetic heritage?

And the big Question:

Should Human Cloning be banned/allowed/regulated?

The only UN resolution that touches on this issue specifically is resolution #56 - BioRights Declaration, which guarantees clones or genetically altered persons the same rights as unaltered people.

Do we as a region have a position on these issues?

Do you think we need a resolution on these issues or should it be up to individual nations?

Does anyone have a great idea for developing this into a resolution?

Although I'm new here - i'm not out to get a quick feather in my country's cap by getting a resolution through - you've all been so great at welcoming Lawtonia, We in Lawtonia just wish to convey our gratitude by participating as best as we can.

[Groot Gouda]

Those are, well, big questions. I don't know whether it's wise or possible to answer them all in one resolution.

To get some inspiration, have a look around in the library and then start posting drafts here, so we can comment on them. That's usually the best way.

[Lawtonia]

Good idea - now that I've slept on it - some of it I think can be covered in our own nation's legislation but it think it may be possible to break it up in a few resolutions.

While all of the issues I raised do touch on basic human rights - I think I'll start by focusing on Gene based Discrimination such as was displayed in the film GATTACA - any further ideas will be helpful - I'll try and have a draft ready in the next few days

[Lawtonia]

ok here is draft no.1

GENETIC DISCRIMINATION
A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights

Description: Since the mapping of the Human Genome, science has been able to identify the genes that make each human unique. While our DNA contains information about and individual?s physical and personality characteristics it also contains information about our susceptibility to illnesses and disabilities which can be passed on to our descendants.

Noting previous UN resolutions guaranteeing human rights such as: #56 BioRights Declaration, #83 The Eon Convention on Genocide, #88 Fairness and Equality and #99 Discrimination Accord.

The UN resolves that:

1. A person may not be limited, discriminated against or restricted access to any of the following based on the information contained in their individual genetic blue print:

? Social Services provided by governments including, but not limited to, Health, Justice, Education, Housing, Unemployment benefits, etc

? Commercial Services provided by the non-government sector including, but not limited to, Insurance, Financial Services, Information Services, other Goods & Services, etc

2 The pursuit of a Career, Recreational Activity or Commercial Enterprise shall not be limited by an individual?s genetic blueprint.

3. A person may not be denied reproductive rights due to the information contained in their genetic blueprint.

4. A person may not be denied any other rights guaranteed by previous UN resolutions based on the information contained in their genetic blueprint.





sorry - don't know how to do the box thing yet

[Groot Gouda]

Perhaps we can take this up a level, and going for two fundamental rights:

1. The integrity of the body - a mature person owns their own body, and decides what happens to it at all times.

2. The integrity of the body includes DNA, which may only be taken with consent of the owner, and only taken against the owners will if the person is suspected of a big crime and no other means can prove or disprove guilt.

Or something like that - it's your resolution. But try to think first: what is the fundamental right or issue here? Why shouldn't people be discriminated against based on DNA? And start with that. Keeping it a little vague at times means you cover a bigger scope of issues. And we've just had yet another "discrimination" resolution, it might be wise to look for a slightly different angle. We've got anti-discrimination resolutions already, so try and pick something less covered, which is better and gives a better chance at succeeding.

Oh, and be carefull with DNA: there's still a lot of uncertainty about it, especially on the "blueprint" issue, and it looks like DNA is not solely responsible for the "blueprint".

[DataGenesis]

I think this is a great idea. Be sure to also look at resolution 56 as below, in case you plan to cover any of that ground. You likely won't but I thought id point it out anyway.

Good job! :lol:

UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION #56

BioRights Declaration
A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights
Strength: Significant
Proposed by: The free carolinas

Description: The United Nations and its member states shall hereby recognize and henceforth regard the inherent rights of cloned and genetically engineered persons as being the equal of those of naturally born and unmodified persons.

Votes For: 12,135
Votes Against: 4,726

Implemented: Thu May 6 2004

[Tycholand]

Well, saying a person may not be discrimanted based on their DNA is (almost?) saying the person should not be discriminated against based on, for example, their skin colour.

I don't know exactly all the points the DNA "makes" of you (like eye colour). Maybe someone can find out?

[quentoni]

The concerns I have over DNA are not a typical discrimination issue, though that's part of it.

My primary concern is where law enforcement agencies gather DNA evidence to "exclude" people as suspects. DNA is given up, voluntarily sometimes, sometimes not. Regardless, even in a voluntary situation, such as someone was raped in the neighborhood and they want all the men to submit to DNA testing to eliminate them as suspects. In this specific case, the DNA may become property of the law enforcement agency. The giver loses control over what happens to that DNA. Does this mean that it could be used in a DNA database to be accessed by whomever? Even in this legitmate taking of DNA evidence (in some people's opinions) can bring out issues that are not purely an equal rights issue. What if the DNA was sold to labratories to study? Could it happen that DNA from a criminal investigation could be used to clone someone through a sale at some point? Not to bash law enforcement, it is just one of a pandora's box of issues that come to mind.

I think this is an important issue, that I'm glad is being raised.

[Tycholand]

That could lead to another resolution: a worldwide DNA-database.

DNA collected by law enforcement officials store the DNA in a database, which is accesible by law enforcement officials worldwide. The DNA however, should NOT be accesible to any third partie (for example labs).

If someone wishes to donate some of their DNA to a lab, then that person should seek contact with the lab.

DNA-banks should NOT be giving any DNA-material, real DNA or DNA-info stored in computers, to labs, unless they are police labs involved in studying/comparing DNA to solve a crime.

[Lawtonia]

Just a quick note as I am not presently in my nation's capital. I decided to split my ideas up between two resolutions. One on genetic discrimination and another on genetic rights. While I am new, i have been doing a lot of reading on the forums and realise how jaded nations seem to be with "discrimination" resolutions. although most discrimination issues are already covered, they do not cover discrimination based on genes.

In real life genes have already been mapped which show a person's tendancy to anti-social aggresive violent behaviour, depression not to mention genes for downe syndrome, etc. would anyone here like to be refused education or health insurance because somewhere in their own genome they carry a gene for depression or cystic fibrosis?

I feel its an important issue - however, i'm not in this for the glory of writing a resolution, its only a proposal at this stage - I'm quite happy for it to sit in the development stage until the rest of the UN is ready for another discrimination issue.

The issue of people's individual Rights over their own genes and to protect people should be a completely different resolution. (it will probably be more successful than a "discrimination" resolution)

Thanks everyone for your input - i really value your experience

I will write more on the rights issue when I get back to my capital

Cheers

[Lawtonia]

Just a quick note on my original draft: Medical researchers in my RL country have identified the chromosome which contains the migraine gene and will have the exact gene identified within the next 12 months. This has the potential for medical advances but in order to keep production up and staff downtime to a minimum employers may discriminate against potential employees with the migraine gene. International legislation needs to keep pace with technology - just something to think about. I will have a draft resolution for a Genetic Protection Act in a few days - this will deal with issues not raised in the genetic discrimination proposal.