Comments on: Case Studies, and one last office hour! http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/10/case-studies-and-one-last-office-hour/ "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed." - UNESCO Constitution Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:17:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 by: United States of America http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/10/case-studies-and-one-last-office-hour/#comment-41 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:40:33 +0000 http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/10/case-studies-and-one-last-office-hour/#comment-41 The United States does agree with South Africa that the ownership of the DNA and privatization of it is important but that is also only part of the problem, we have to look at everything overall. There are organizations out there that have strict guidelines on the ownership and issues surrounding the DNA, and the USA is also proud to say that we are members of some of these organizations. You can also see that from one of the previous articles posted, that we have already made great leaps and bounds in protecting people's genetic information, not just indigenous people but everyone in our nation and maybe, internationally. The fact that we have the opportunity to obtain this kind of information and data is valuable, and we should not compromise it, however, we should take steps to make sure that we don't jeopardize those willing to help contribute to the programs, we must protect our donors and we must look at this issue from all sides. The United States does agree with South Africa that the ownership of the DNA and privatization of it is important but that is also only part of the problem, we have to look at everything overall. There are organizations out there that have strict guidelines on the ownership and issues surrounding the DNA, and the USA is also proud to say that we are members of some of these organizations.

You can also see that from one of the previous articles posted, that we have already made great leaps and bounds in protecting people’s genetic information, not just indigenous people but everyone in our nation and maybe, internationally.

The fact that we have the opportunity to obtain this kind of information and data is valuable, and we should not compromise it, however, we should take steps to make sure that we don’t jeopardize those willing to help contribute to the programs, we must protect our donors and we must look at this issue from all sides.

]]> by: Bill (South Africa) http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/10/case-studies-and-one-last-office-hour/#comment-39 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:03:33 +0000 http://blogs.bmun.net/unesco/2008/03/10/case-studies-and-one-last-office-hour/#comment-39 The Icelantic case-study is an intersting one because it addresses most, if not all issues related to cultural identity, and highlights some additional issues. This case-study highlights an issue of pertinence to South Africa: privacy. South Africa has proven an attractive place for research, particularly AIDS research. Due to possible stigmatization and discrimination surrounding AIDS, privacy is of utmost importance. South Africa finds it revealing that genetic research into diseases without the same sort of stigmatization and discrimination associated with it, as AIDS does, would cause such an uproar. However, South Africa notes that most of the opposition is a result of privatization of nation-wide genetic data compiling, and that the other issues, such as benefit sharing (through jobs and access to medication) and informed consent, appear secondary. South Africa believes that it was the way in which the genetic data was gathered and stored and not the action itself that was the problem. UNESCO has started to solve these problems (informed consent and benefit sharing) and should continue to. South Africa does not feel that the gathering of such data should simply be eliminated, just that basic research ethics must be outlined and enforced. The Icelantic case-study is an intersting one because it addresses most, if not all issues related to cultural identity, and highlights some additional issues. This case-study highlights an issue of pertinence to South Africa: privacy. South Africa has proven an attractive place for research, particularly AIDS research. Due to possible stigmatization and discrimination surrounding AIDS, privacy is of utmost importance. South Africa finds it revealing that genetic research into diseases without the same sort of stigmatization and discrimination associated with it, as AIDS does, would cause such an uproar.

However, South Africa notes that most of the opposition is a result of privatization of nation-wide genetic data compiling, and that the other issues, such as benefit sharing (through jobs and access to medication) and informed consent, appear secondary.

South Africa believes that it was the way in which the genetic data was gathered and stored and not the action itself that was the problem. UNESCO has started to solve these problems (informed consent and benefit sharing) and should continue to. South Africa does not feel that the gathering of such data should simply be eliminated, just that basic research ethics must be outlined and enforced.

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