1QUESTION OF: Genetic Patents 2MAIN SUBMITTED BY: Iran 3CO-SUBMITTED BY: Afghanistan, Somalia 4CO-SPONSORED BY: Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Iraq 1THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COUNCIL, 2Believing that fundamental components of life should not be treated as objects or subjected to the 3possession of any limited organization, individual, or group of individuals; 4 5Expressing concern by the efforts made by both state-sponsored or in the private sector research 6companies, to patent genetic material, a fundamental component of life 7 8Expressing alarm at the usage of and the potential of using genetic patenting for commercial 9profit; 10 11Further expressing alarm at the situation of competitive patenting across the world; 12 13Believing the principle that scientific innovation, including but not limited to genetic patents, 14should belong to a scientific commons, subject to limited restrictions, that is available for global, 15peaceful public use for the betterment of all humankind; 16 17Expressing deep concern at the disadvantages of genetic patenting including economic trade 18imbalance and inhibition of scientific innovation; 19 20Stresses the importance of not interfering with, or hindering the growth of a developing country 21that requires the usage of bioengineering for the public needs, or for the growth of an industry on 22which much of the population depends upon to maintain living standards; 23 24Expressing concern to the lack of awareness on the issue of genetic patenting; 25 26Further noting the dangers of genetic patenting regarding genetic mutation; 27 28 29
1. Calls for the end of genetic patenting, due to the immorality of life forms being lost
during the process of genetic engineering, and the fact that patents cannot be applied to the naturally occurring genes in humans or any other naturally occurring organism;
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2. Urges the removal of all projects relating to bioengineering that strive to be recognized
with genetic patents and will not serve the public interest;
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3. Urges member nations to take action in preventing genetic patenting within their borders
as it allows the commercialization and privatization of genetic sequences;
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4. Urges member states to prevent self-profiting genetic projects whether it be government
5QUESTION OF: Genetic Patents 6MAIN SUBMITTED BY: Iran 7CO-SUBMITTED BY: Afghanistan, Somalia 8CO-SPONSORED BY: Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Iraq 38 or commercial from taking place, thus putting an end to all future genetic patenting 39 projects; 40 41 42 43
5. Deplores genetic patenting as a form of economic warfare, and wishes to prevent such
future demeanours, including the usage of genetic patents by any country to hinder growth in other countries that are less developed in the bioengineering sector;
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6. Suggests the implementation of a United Nations Committee for Biological Engineering
(UNCBE) that would:
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a. Discuss the provision of economic aid to countries whose economies would be
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b. Provide the final word with regards to whether a country relies on the genetic
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c. Supervise the development of a United Nations Science Framework;
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d. Create a supervising United Nations Watchdog,
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e. Possess the power to sanction any party found by the Watchdog to have violated
heavily affected by the removal of genetic patents, patents for social and economic development,
the clauses presented in this resolution, with recommendations from the Watchdog;
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7. Allows countries under clause 3b that are dependent on genetic patents to continue with
biological engineering for the sake of maintaining their economies and serving the population;
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8. Proposes the establishment of the United Nations Framework for the Scientific
Commons, a global framework initiative under clause 3 subclause C, aimed to:
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a. Maintain and promote the ideal of having all scientific developments under
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b. Unify all scientific knowledge under one archive, with free texts freely available
scientific commons, to the public,
9QUESTION OF: Genetic Patents 10MAIN SUBMITTED BY: Iran 11CO-SUBMITTED BY: Afghanistan, Somalia 12CO-SPONSORED BY: Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Iraq 67 c. Promote scientific development and research, allowing for multiple individuals 68 and organizations to work in collaboration or otherwise, on one specific area of 69 research, 70 71
d. Increase awareness on the importance of scientific research, including but not
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e. Publish easily accessible guidelines for member nations to follow involving
limited to, genetic patents, genetic modification;
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9. Establishes a United Nations Watchdog on Biological Engineering that would: a. Strictly monitor any violations of the clauses set out by this resolution, such as the
development of genetic projects aimed for profit and the use of genetic patents already in existence as weapons of war; b. Enforce the clauses stated in this resolution and report of any violations; c. Provide recommendations, should any nation be discovered to have violated clauses encompassed by subclause A of this clause, regarding the sanctions imposed for the damages caused as a result of the violation under clause 3e; 10. Decides to remain actively seized in the matter.