Dear friends and colleagues, From the perspective of anyone who thinks social justice and human rights should lie at the heart of upcoming policy decisions about whether heritable genome editing should be pursued, the agenda for the March 2023 International Summit on Human Genome Editing announced last week was extremely disconcerting. Only a few speakers address the role of civil society and public engagement. Surprisingly, we were informed just 48 hours before the public announcement that CGS associate director Katie Hasson had been removed from the agenda. We see these moves as clear signs of how little the Summit planning committee values the voices and perspectives of civil society. To expand and reorient the conversation, our Missing Voices Initiative and Generation Equality Forum Coalition will host an independent event just prior to the Summit. These two global leadership groups integrate perspectives on gender equality, reproductive rights and justice, disability rights, racial justice, Indigenous sovereignty, and environmentalism into public and policy discussions about heritable genome editing. We will coordinate with several other networks, both scholarly and grassroots, that are also using the occasion of the Summit for counter-programming to expose the narrow views that make up the “official” conversation. This is an extension of work already underway by CGS and other academic, civil society, and grassroots groups. Our webinar “Equity, Sovereignty, and Racial Justice: Beyond Access in Debates about Human Genome Editing” (recap, full video, and transcript available) was the first in a series of events organized by the Missing Voices Initiative. The next, “Forging New Disability Rights Narratives about Heritable Genome Editing,” will take place on November 14th at 9am PT/12pm ET/6pm CET. Stay tuned for registration details. We look forward to keeping you informed as these exciting plans develop. Best, Marcy Darnovsky, CGS Executive Director Katie Hasson, CGS Associate Director P.S. Will you join us in this urgent work to broaden the conversation around heritable genome editing? Your support allows us to organize innovative, inclusive, and accessible events that amplify voices and perspectives that are urgently needed in these debates. Donate Now! The Center For Genetics and Society | 2900 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!