Deutsche Version<\/a> \/\/ Version Fran\u00e7aise<\/a> \/\/ Versi\u00f3n en castellano<\/a> \/\/ English version<\/a> \/\/ Versione italian<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The undersigned organisations and individuals support the existing strong international consensus against genetic modification of human beings (HGM*). We wish to express our great concern about and opposition to those scientific academies and others presently seeking to legalise HGM. HGM is medically unnecessary. Pursuing it is an act of extreme scientific irresponsibility, likely to result in enormously harmful consequences for individuals and for global society as a whole.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Human cloning and HGM were banned in international human rights treaties and in many countries in the 1990s, primarily because of the terrible history of eugenics. We support this deeply-felt and principled international ethical consensus. New technical abilities to conduct HGM do not change that consensus. We believe:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n – Designing children\u2019s genes runs counter to accepted basic visions of diversity and the inclusion and equality of all vulnerable individuals and minority groups. Rather than competitively genetically \u2018enhancing\u2019 children, we want to encourage a world that celebrates and accepts all individuals and groups of people and that does not rely on oppressive and biological determinist prejudices about what constitutes a \u2018better\u2019 human being. Allowing HGM would exacerbate existing social inequalities. It would be an act of scientific irresponsibility and, in a time of rising neo-fascism, of political irresponsibility as well. We call upon the UN to create an international convention to permanently ban HGM and human cloning. For the sake of our children and of our common humanity we must not cross this ethical line.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n * We use the term \u2018human genetic modification\u2019 (HGM) rather than \u2018genome editing\u2019. Scientists seeking to promote HGM introduced the later term to allay public concerns about creating designer children. We use the term \u2018human genetic modification\u2019 to refer to genetic modification of human eggs, sperm, or embryos to create a person who is genetically engineered in all cells of their body and will pass on the genetic changes to their offspring. Genetic engineering of cells for purposes of treating a particular disease as, for example, skin, liver, or lung cells, which we do not oppose, is usually referred to as somatic gene therapy.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Contact us: info at coalitionstopdesignerbabies.net<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n TO SIGN THE DECLARATION AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR AS AN ORGANISATION, PLEASE FILL IN THIS FORM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
– Like human cloning, HGM is referred to in international declarations and treaties as contrary to human dignity, because it reduces human beings, to the status of designed and optimised consumer objects.
– There are a range of robust alternative methods for avoiding genetic conditions, so the only advantage of HGM would be for ensuring 100% genetic parenthood of the child. It can never be ethical to submit a child to the severe health risks of genetic modification for this purpose.
– We are also concerned about the exploitation of and health risks to those sourced for eggs for research to make HGM possible.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n