Italy offers compromise on proposed UN cloning treaty News
Italy offers compromise on proposed UN cloning treaty

[JURIST] In an attempt to resolve division among UN member states, Italy has put forth a compromise proposal for a global treaty on human cloning. The UN General Assembly's Legal Committee (the Sixth Committee) has been debating two proposals, one from Costa Rica that would ban all human cloning, and one from Belgium that would ban reproductive cloning but allow states to use embryos for stem cell and other research. Italy's proposal would call on countries to ban attempts to create "human life," rather than "human beings" through cloning. The Sixth Committee offers a summary of its work on the proposed convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings. An ad hoc committee established to consider the proposed convention has additional background. JURIST's Paper Chase has covered the UN debate on cloning. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.