human rights in scientific research

Mustafa Ali Mohamed

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of life on the

entire Earth.

It's the Varity of all life forms; the different

plants, animals and microorganisms. Their

species , genes and the ecosystem of which

they are apart.

Biodiversity divides to :

1- Species biodiversity: refers to the number of

species and the number of individuals in each

species.

2- Genetic biodiversity: "of genes within a species".

3- Ecological biodiversity: as "ways of interaction".

Threats to biodiversity

Common threat of biodiversity is extinction

According to the International Union for Conservation of

Nature (IUCN), globally about one third of all known species

are threatened with extinction. If we do not stop the threats to

biodiversity, we could be facing another mass extinction with dire

consequences to the environment and human health and

livelihood.

Human population in relation with biodiversity:

The earth is losing biodiversity at a rate not seen since

the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs 65

million years ago.

It might therefore be thought that bringing

human rights into the equation when thinking

about strategies for protecting biodiversity

only serves to muddy the waters.

Biodiversity and human rights

under a common threat;

Human PopulationIn size and resources

ofHuman Enterprises

Agriculture Industry Recreation International Commerce

Land TransformationLike:

Land ClearingForestry

Intensification

Biotic Additionsand Loss

Like:InvasionHuntingFishing

GlobalBiogeochemistry

Like:CarbonNitrogenWater

Climate Change

Like:Enhanced

GreenhouseAerosols

Land cover

Loss of Biological Diversity

As:Extinction of species

And populationsLoss of ecosystemsVitousek et. al (1997) Science, 277, p.494-499

so,..• Humans require a great deal of resources

and space and have not had a record of sharing.

• Our increasing numbers will certainly increase the rate at which animals and plants are lost.

Quick Actions to Protect Biodiversity

and Ecosystems:

1. Plant native species to provide shelter and food for

native animals “natural reserves”.

2. To reduce pressures on watersheds, eliminate

pesticide and herbicide usage.

3. Buy products that support wildlife conservation and

sustainable farming practices.

4. Protect aquifers, save energy, and reduce waste

water, which in turn helps protect ecosystems.

• "For if one link in nature's

chain might be lost, another

might be lost, until the whole

of things will vanish by

piecemeal."

- Thomas Jefferson

Bioterrorism"Bioterrorism” - The unlawful use, or threatened use, of

microorganisms or toxins derived from living organisms to produce

death or disease in humans, animals, or plants. The act is intended to

create fear and intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of

political, religious, or ideological goals.

Bioterrorism is classified according to CDC into 3 categories:

Class-a-: These high-priority agents include organisms or toxins that

pose the highest risk to the public and national security.

Class-b-: These agents are the second highest priority result in

moderate illness rates and low death rates

Class-c-: These third highest priority agents include emerging

pathogens that could be engineered for mass spread in the future.

In our branch as agricultural biotechnologists we only aware

about agricultural bioterrorism as Agriculture is considered

by many to be the perfect target for bioterrorism, also called

Agro-Bioterrorism.

Agro-bioterrorism targeting the food supplies

Considerations of biological warfare and bioterrorism nearly always focus on the direct threat of the use of human diseases as weapons.

However, the possibility of biological attack on the plant or animal resources of a country is increasingly recognized as a serious threat.

Agricultural terrorism is not about killing animals; it is about crippling an economy. To that end livestock/poultry industries and crops would be preferred by terrorists.

For animals, there are many foreign agents readily

available in nature, from low-security laboratories, even

from commercial sources, that require little effort or risk to

smuggle in. Most foreign animal agents pose no risk to

human health, so the terrorist may feel some sense of

security in handling and dispersing these pathogens.

For plants, as a case study; In 2011, the entire 400 million

base-pair genomic sequence of Cannabis Sativa was

published online which, Allows continued research to the

medicinal effects of Tetrahydrocannabinol and

Cannabanoids which, Could place THC production in

anything & Could create mutant strain Similar to H7N9

“type of influenza”.

Agriculture is highly vulnerable to genotype-specific

weapons:

Agriculture, particularly in many developed countries, has

several properties that make it defenseless to attack with

genotype-specific weapons.

Typically, it employs monocropping of large acreages with

genetically identical cultivars, and high-density husbandry of

genetically inbred animal strains. These agronomic practices

reduce the genetic variability that makes populations resistant to

genotype-specific weapons, and thereby create conditions that

facilitate disease spread.

To defend against agricultural terrorism Reduce

dependence on monoculture and expand the diversity

of genotypes cultured

Defending against Agro-Bioterrorism

Countries that engage in high intensity agriculture of a limited range of varieties could reduce their exposure to both deliberate and natural disease outbreaks by:

1- Increasing the use of Intercropping

2- Expanding the diversity of genotypes utilized

3- Reducing the size of plots

4- A variety of other agricultural changes designed to reduce susceptibility to disease outbreaks.

Human Rights in GMOs Cases

A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism

(GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic

engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as

recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which

are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes.

"The availability of food in a quantity and quality sufficient to satisfy the dietary needs of individuals, free from adverse substances, and

acceptable within a given culture;The accessibility of such food in ways that are sustainable and that do not interfere with the

enjoyment of other human rights."

General Comment 12, paragraph 8 (E/C.12/1999/5

The right to sufficient food

Some ethical aspects of GMOs fall within the context of

the right to sufficient food, which is derived from

the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

At the 1996 World Food Summit, the Rome

Declaration on World Food Security and the World

Food Summit Plan of Action reaffirmed the right of

everyone to sufficient food. SO, the earlier quotation

related to the right to sufficient food are considered to

be highly relevant to the analyses of GMOs.

The right to informed choice

Which derives from the ethical concept of autonomy of

individuals. This principle can be applied, for example, in the

debate on labeling food derived from GMOs to ensure that

consumers know what they are consuming and are able to

make informed decisions.

Particularly in developing countries, the very poor (both

women and men) may lack the most basic information to

make decisions that may affect their health and capacity to

sustain themselves. Appropriate methods to reach the least

educated, the poorest and the most disadvantaged groups

should form part of any strategy to inform the public so that

individuals are able to choose according to their needs.

The right to democratic

participationAddresses the need for justice and equity, which are of major

concern in the context of GMO-related decisions.

Principles of justice may include gender equality, need, accountability,

liability, and fair and democratic procedures. Many young people,

particularly the poor and powerless, have little education and no

social entry point to influence decisions about GMOs. They should

also have the right to choose the product that best suits their needs.

Of concern is the fact that future generations have no voice or vote in

decisions taken on GMOs today, which means that ways must be

found to ensure that their interests are taken into account.

Options must be kept open so as to enable future generations to meet

their specific needs, including those deriving from unpredictable

environmental changes.

Conclusion

Modern biotechnology, if suitable developed, could offer new

and broad potential for contributing to food security.

At the same time, the speed of genetic change made possible by

genetic engineering may represent a new potential impact on

the biosphere.

However, it is not possible to make sweeping generalizations

about GMOs; each application must be fully analyzed on

a case-by-case basis.

Through complete and transparent assessments of GMO

applications, and recognition of their short- and long-term

implications, the debate can be less contentious and more

constructive.

As..The right to sufficient food, as understood today,

carries with it obligations on the part of states to

protect individuals' autonomy and capacity to

participate in public decision-making fora,

especially when other participants are more powerful,

assertive or aggressive. These obligations can include

the provision of public resources to ensure that those

fora take place in a spirit of fairness and justice. And

that consider an indirect important violence to Human

Rights.

The impacts of reproductive rights

There has been a shift in the acknowledgement of, and access to, some aspects of sexual and reproductive

rights.

Then recently, rights discourses have been integrated to varying extents within many social justice

movements and are increasingly integrated into global and national policy frameworks, especially

those relating to gender equality and health

Twelve human rights key to reproductive

rights1. The Right to Life.

2. The Right to Liberty and Security of Person.

3. The Right to Health, including Sexual and Reproductive Health.

4. The Right to Decide the Number and Spacing of Children.

5. The Right to approval to Marriage and to Equality in Marriage.

6. The Right to Privacy.

7. The Right to Equality and Non-Discrimination.

8. The Right to be Free from Practices that Harm Women and Girls.

9. The Right to Not be Subjected to Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman, or

Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

10. The Right to be Free from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

11. The Right to Access Sexual and Reproductive Health Education and

Family Planning Information.

12. The Right to Enjoy the Benefits of Scientific Progress.

As stated in Paragraph 7.3 of the ICPD Programme of Action

Under principal of,

- The Right to Health, including Sexual and Reproductive Health.

- The Right to Decide the Number and Spacing of Children.

- The Right to approval to Marriage and to Equality in

Marriage.

Reproductive health show that people are able to have a satisfying sex life and that they have the ability to reproduceand the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so.

In this last condition are the right of men and women to be informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as well as other methods of their choice for regulation of fertility, which are not against the law, and the right of access to appropriate health-care services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant

(cairo programme of action paragraph 94).

Under principal of,

- The Right To Equality And Non-discrimination.

- The Right To Be Free From Practices That Harm Women And

Girls.

- The Right To Not Be Subjected To Torture Or Other Cruel,

Inhuman, Or Degrading Treatment Or Punishment.

- The Right To Be Free From Sexual And Gender-based Violence.

Empowering women with the ability to regulate and control their

fertility is a basic requirement for women's health, well-being, and

quality of life.

In many societies, the predominant objection to the use of

contraception was really an objection to the control of contraception

by women, rather than against contraception itself.

Male dominated societies resented giving control of the process of

reproduction to women.

So, under authority of:- The Right To Access Sexual And Reproductive Health Education

And Family Planning Information.

- The Right To Enjoy The Benefits Of Scientific Progress.

First, reproductive health policies should include safeguards

against the violation of reproductive rights.

Second, gender equality programs should be seen as essential for

building sustainable reproductive rights and reproductive

health policies.

Finally, broad-based policies strengthening democratic

institutions as well as agencies and organizations at the

governmental and non-governmental levels for promoting

social development are essential for achieving reproductive

health through improvements in gender equality.

Thank you

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8657848?related=1• http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Biodiversity.aspx• http://www.slideshare.net/doctorrao/bioterrorism-

7510003?next_slideshow=1• http://www.iatp.org/files/Agricultural_Biowarfare_and_Bioterrorism.htm• http://www.cfr.org/agricultural-policy/regulation-gmos-europe-united-

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