Defending the Human Embryo

Recently, the Council of Ministers voted on the SoHO regulation, prompting significant concerns from the One of Us European Federation.

The new regulation dangerously undermines the value of the human embryonic cells by categorising the embryo as a “human-origin substance” alongside blood, tissues, and gametes. This trivialises the unique nature of embryos and paves the way for an EU market in embryos. By promoting the cross-border exchange of gametes, embryonic cells, and embryos, the EU is effectively creating a market for embryos, which raises serious ethical concerns.

“By promoting the exchange of human embryos across borders, the EU is severely eroding the dignity and protection owed to human embryos and incredibly promoting human trafficking,” stated Pablo Siegrist, vice president of One of Us. “This regulation, that facilitates the commercialization of the tiniest human beings, is a grave step backward in ethical standards. The dignity of human embryos must be upheld, not diminished to the status of mere substances for trade.”

The regulation’s inclusion of embryonic cells and gametes in the same category as other human-origin substances ignores the unique and significant ethical considerations surrounding human embryos. Furthermore, it imposes this perspective on all member states, questioning their freedom to legislate on the status of embryos as afforded by the Oviedo Convention.

One of Us is currently working to reaffirm the true values of Europe that respect and call for the protection of human embryos. Visit oneofus.eu and sign the One of Us citizen appeal to call for the protection of human dignity.