Pro-life groups slam Argentina for abstaining from vote on human cloning

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mar 10, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Several pro-life groups in Argentina called the country’s abstention from the UN vote on human cloning “an embarrassment.”

The UN General Assembly voted to ban all forms of human cloning in a resolution this Tuesday.  Argentina seconded the proposals of Belgium—which allows therapeutic cloning—and abstained during the vote.

The pro-life publication “Notivida” reported that Argentina abstained from the vote, “following the directives of the Kirchner government, and distancing itself from the majority of countries which, in defense of life, supported the resolution.”

“The Argentinean government, with its abstention, showed that it believes the elimination of human beings is acceptable,” said the report.

The resolution was approved with 84 votes in favor, 34 against and 37 abstentions.  Among the countries that voted in favor were the US, Germany, Portugal, Poland, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay and Nicaragua.  Belgium, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan, Sweden, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba and other countries voted against the resolution.  Argentina and Uruguay were among the countries that abstained.

The resolution exhorts member countries to “prohibit cloning in all its forms as contrary to human dignity and the protection of life.”