Gift of Life has re-sent a request to Minister Chris Said for an urgent amendment to the level of punishment proposed in the Embryo Protection Act.

The foundation said it disagreed with the level of punishment proposed in the Embryo Protection Bill.

“Our concerns are confirmed when the proposed punishment for offenders under the proposed law are compared to the punishment for offenders under the Animal Welfare Act. It is unfortunate that the minister has so far remained unclear about whether he intends to consider the foundation’s request for an amendment.”

Gift of Life said that without attempting to diminish from the importance of having laws to protect animals, it was widely accepted that a human life held more dignity and value.

The law as proposed set out to protect human life from fertilisation. However, the consequences for breaking the same law did not realistically reflect the gravity of any offense committed.

This was even more pertinent when one considered that the fines and punishments envisaged were at times less than the maximum allowed under the Animal Welfare Act.

“Passing a law in this way is irresponsible as it sends the wrong message and diminishes the value attributed by law to human life.

“We are urgently insisting that the necessary amendments are made to rectify this situation when the bill is debated in Parliament.”