“What vote will the Republic of San Marino cast on the Additional Protocol to the Oviedo Convention?”
I turn to the San Marino Bioethics Committee (CBS) and the Government given the latter is up to the final decision. Distinguished Members of CBS and Honorable Members of State, I decided to turn to the SV, because some citizen committed for some time linked to the rights of people with disabilities, without considering myself an expert or depositary of granitic reasons, I would like to understand the dynamics and the reasons that seem to induce our country to take a position in the International Bodies to which we belong in the next few days, which contrasts sharply not only with the positions of other European and so-called Western countries, but which is totally antithetical to previous decisions taken solemnly and without reservations at the international level. I go straight to the point: The Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine of the Council of Europe (Oviedo Convention) was put to the vote for the current month on the agenda of the Council of Europe’s Bioethics Committee. , which notes a series of principles and prohibitions in the field of bioethics, medical research, consent, rights to privacy and information, organs, public debate, etc. Having entered into force in 1997, long before the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006), it became necessary to adopt an additional Protocol, in order to create a legal framework with the latter for how long hospitalization takes. and the involuntary treatment of people with intellectual problems. Well, the draft up to now elaborated and by now reached the final vote, has been from the beginning of the works (about two and a half years ago) the subject of strong criticism promoted by the most important public institutions and private organizations that move on the front in Europe. disability, which asked their countries to review their position in favor of the draft of the Document, inviting them to reject it or at least to abstain, as it is strongly considered to be detrimental to the rights and dignity of people with mental disorders. In fact, it will open the door to the institutionalization of people with disabilities but above all to forced treatment. Just to give an idea, restraint and electroshock are considered legitimate … we only need the lobotomy (and God forbid!). This is an example, there are also other passages of the text that clash with the provisions of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. A very tough battle, therefore, which even saw the launch and spread throughout the continent of a pressing campaign called #WithdrawOviedo to collect the working draft. Now, I will not dwell too much because those who want can easily find out by surfing the Internet, on a matter that has not had any echo in San Marino, while in Italy and in Europe nothing else. The point on which to bring the reasoning is very simple: while in Italy it has even been possible to overturn the position and in other countries as well or to convince them and make them converge towards abstention, San Marino seems to prefer to remain firm on the vote. a favor. I only ask, also on behalf of San Marino citizens with certain disabilities and theirs and also in the name of that dear motto “Nothing about us without us”, to be information on why San Marino continues to express a position in favor of this Protocol . I ask today how I reported the issue as Secretary of State and to some CBS members when I held the role of Councilor, because on what I amicably define “lively bioethical confrontation at international level”, I was made aware, right from the start, by authoritative friends who work at the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, who amazed me at the somewhat contradictory position of the Republic of San Marino. I have never had a formal reply, this time I am confidently waiting also and above all that the government decides to revise its opinion. Thanks for the attention
cs Mirko Tomassoni, president of Attiva-Mente