Preview

Lex Russica

Advanced search

Countering Genetic Discrimination: African Union Member States Experience

https://doi.org/10.17803/1729-5920.2025.221.4.080-089

Abstract

The paper is devoted to a detailed analysis of the implementation of the principle of non-discrimination based on genetic status within the framework of the African Union, as well as its member states. The author examines the legal framework for countering genetic discrimination in the context of the leading regional integration association on the African continent, and examines key supranational mechanisms for protection against discrimination. The study focuses on a comprehensive review of the African Union member states experience in countering discriminatory and stigmatizing practices. The case study of Malawi, the Republic of South Africa, and the Sudan demonstrates not only a commitment to conceptual approaches regarding the prohibition of genetic discrimination that have developed at the global level, but also the possibility of implementing the principle of non-discrimination in this area from a national perspective. The author articulates development trends as to supranational and national regulation in the field of countering genetic discrimination on the African continent, and suggests that best practices be adapted in order to for improve relevant regulation in the Russian Federation and integration associations with its participation.

About the Author

D. V. Ponomareva
Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL)
Russian Federation

Darya V. Ponomareva, Cand. Sci. (Law), Associate Professor, Deputy Head, Department of Practical Law, Senior Researcher, Scientific and Educational Center for Legal Support of Bioeconomics and Genetic Technologies

Moscow



References

1. De Vries J, Landouré G, Wonkam A. Stigma in African genomics research: Gendered blame, polygamy, ancestry and disease causal beliefs impact on the risk of harm. Social Science & Medicine. 2020;258:113091.

2. Dupras C, Ravitsky V. Epigenetics in the neoliberal «regime of truth»: A biopolitical perspective on knowledge translation. Hastings Center Report. 2016;46:26-35.

3. Eltis K. Genetic determinism and discrimination: A call to re-orient prevailing Human Rights discourse to better comport with the public implications of individual genetic testing. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 2007;35:282-294.

4. Gomez F, Hirbo J, Tishkoff SA. Genetic variation and adaptation in Africa: Implications for human evolution and disease. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. 2014;6(7).

5. Iltis AS, Rolf L, Yaeger L, Goodman MS, DuBois JM. Attitudes and beliefs regarding race-targeted genetic testing of Black people: A systematic review. Journal of Genetic Counseling. 2023;32(2):435-461.

6. Joly Y, Dalpe G. Genetic discrimination still casts a large shadow in 2022. European Journal of Human Genetics. 2022;30:1320-1322.

7. Ponomareva DV, Sorokina EM. Problems of genetic discrimination and genomic research: Legislation and practice. A monograph. Ponomareva DV, editor. Moscow: Rusains Publ.; 2022. (In Russ.).

8. Ramsay M, de Vries J, Soodyall H, Norris S, Sankoh O. Ethical issues in genomic research on the African continent: Experiences and challenges to ethics review committees. Human Genomics. 2014:8.

9. Reardon J. Race to the Finish. Identity and Governance in an Age of Genomics. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press; 2005.

10. Smith B. Intersectional Discrimination and Substantive Equality: a comparative and theoretical perspective. The Equal Rights Review. 2016;74(1):73-99.


Review

For citations:


Ponomareva D.V. Countering Genetic Discrimination: African Union Member States Experience. Lex Russica. 2025;78(4):80-89. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17803/1729-5920.2025.221.4.080-089

Views: 76


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 1729-5920 (Print)
ISSN 2686-7869 (Online)