The United Nations will revisit the issue of a treaty banning human cloning in one year, rather than the two years that had been previously agreed. This decision was reached after supporters of a total ban attempted to force more debate on the issue by opposing the time delay when it came up for final vote this past week. In November, the delay was agreed after no decision could be reach between competing resolutions, the first supporting a ban on both reproductive and therapeutic cloning and the second banning human reproductive cloning only (see
October newsletter). Now, total ban supporters have stepped back from trying to force a decision at this time. As a compromise, deliberations will resume on the text of a treaty sometime next year rather than in 2005. However, it is unclear whether any consensus will ever be reached. The UK stands firm in its support of the potential benefits of treatments using cloned early embryo cells. The US, on the other hand, has reaffirmed its support for the total ban on cloning. Advocates on both sides agree a compromise between these positions is unlikely