Cloning: National and International Law

Abstract

Introduction

Governance of cloning is a controversial national and international issue. It has occupied the time of legislatures across different countries and even the United Nations General Assembly. Despite attempts at obtaining clarity and coherence in rules governing human reproductive and therapeutic cloning, many countries have adopted a vague and uncertain policy. This is in the nature of the issue under consideration, given that rapid advancements in science and technology can quickly make laws redundant. As law increasingly moves in to regulate private matters of citizens, it takes a big risk, in terms of becoming outdated soon and being poorly enforced. This article delves into the laws and policies of a cross section of countries in an attempt to succinctly present the state of the law in cloning research and other allied areas. This is followed by an international public law approach to governance of cloning, in the light of the 2005 declaration on human cloning.