On 1st July the Faculty's Assistant Professor in International Law Dr Rumiana Yotova was was invited to deliver the 6th Annual Heilbron Lecture for the Next 100 Years Project in the Old Bailey in London on the topic 'Creation: The Human and Humanity in the Age of New Technologies'.
The lecture delved into the legal and ethical dilemmas posed by genome editing and emerging biotechnologies. She explored how new technologies like CRISPR Cas9 allow us not just to create life, but to shape the very essence of humanity and considered that while gene editing offers hope for curing genetic diseases, it also raises concerns about unintended consequences, ethical boundaries, and unequal access.
She went on to discuss how national laws in the field are inconsistent and frequently lag behind the science, whilst from an international law perspective, no global treaty exists and existing conventions and declarations are outdated and lack clear, enforceable standards.
The lecture concluded with a call to action for action to achieve international consensus: Dr Yotova called for a new international agreement to set standards, protect future generations and ensure responsible governance, before technology outpaces regulation.
Dr Yotova was introduced by Baroness Shami Chakrabarti and Dana Denis-Smith OBE. The lecture was hosted by Sheriff Gregory Jones KC, the City of London Corporation and KPMG.
The Heilbron Lecture series, launched by The Next 100 Years, aims to champion female experts in the legal profession by giving them a platform to deliver thought-provoking lectures on topical legal issues, countering the often male-dominated lecture circuit. Named after Dame Rose Heilbron QC, a pioneering figure as the first female senior judge and joint first female Queen’s Counsel (QC), the series seeks to promote rising female legal experts and ensure their visibility and recognition for their legal expertise.
More information about the lecture series on Next 100 year is available from their website.