Topic: Privacy of Personal Genetic Information
Country: Lebanon
Delegate Name: David Ooms
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Lebanon position papers GLIMUN 2010 committees
Since the end of the Human Genome Project in 2003, there is a trend in many developed nations to compile databases of the genetic information of their citizens. These databases are justified because of the ability to detect and treat genetic disorders. The Human Genome Project worked to identify all the genetic characteristics of human DNA. This work has helped to identify the causes of many genetic diseases and guide researchers to new treatment for these diseases. All nations including Lebanon have need for such technologies to treat those people who suffer from genetic disorders and diseases. Unfortunately, these benefits do not come without risks. Many non-governmental orgainizations including Privacy International and the Human Genome Project have raised concerns about medical profiling and racial discrimination based to a person’s genetic makeup. Genetic technology has also been used to link individuals to crime scenes, and now Interpol, the force tasked with policing international criminals, as well as many nations, are taking genetic samples from anyone who commits even a minor misdemeanor in countries such as the United Kingdom. This practice is intended to allow for criminals to be tracked internationally and more easily extradited to nations in which crimes were committed. In many countries compiling such databases, such as the UK, children are having their genetic information stored. Many developed countries, expecially in the west, keep these records in medical and criminal databases. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passed a Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights that the ECOSOC endorsed in 2004. The report recognizes the rights of the individual to privacy of genetic information and guarantees non-discrimination due to their genetic makeup. This topic has been review every three years, and the major topic this session is the right of national governments to obtain and store the information of its citizens. The major concerns with these databanks are who has access to them and how well secured are they. Many fear that the possibility for a breach in privacy is too high with the current system.
Discussing these rights and determining what nations can legally do in accordance with the UNESCO declaration passed by ECOSOC is the goal of this session of the legal committee. Lebanon porposes more oversight mechanisms be put in place to monitor the collection, storage, and use of personal genetic information. This watchdog would report on the conditions in various member nations and gather statistics on how genetic information is being used and protected.
Lebanon expects that many countries in the developing world will support our proposal to reform international rights on genetic information.
Lebanon believes that many western nations, many of which are the entities holding genetic databases, will seek to block revisions that could possibly limit their ability to obtain and hold this type of data. The United Kingdom especially hold a large database of genetic information, and will likely block such a revision.
