Sixth Committee (Legal) Postpones Debate on Competing Human Cloning Resolutions for Two Years

The Sixth Committee (Legal) today narrowly voted to postpone for two years debate on competing human cloning resolutions. In an 80 to 79 ballot with 15 abstentions, the Sixth Committee (Legal) approved a procedural motion from the Islamic Republic of Iran, backed by 56 mostly Islamic States, that effectively put off a showdown on the two resolutions, one by Belgium and one by Costa Rica. Although both versions ban all human reproductive cloning, they differ on language referring to the treatment of human cells for other than reproduction. The vote in the Legal Committee means neither resolution will get to the General Assembly for at least two years.
A wide shot of today's meeting.