[1] Three UN Special Rapporteurs/Experts Human Rights express grave concern to Canadian Gov re violation of #equality & #righttolife persons with disabilities & older persons + procedural violation by inadequate consultation #BillC7 #MAID #euthanasia https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=26002

[2] "By expanding access to #MAID based on disability, Bill C-7 would have a potentially discriminatory impact on persons with disabilities and older persons who are not at the end of their life or nearing death"

[3] " #BillC7 risks reinforcing (even unintentionally) ableist and ageist assumptions about the value or quality of life of persons with disabilities and older persons with or without disabilities."

[4] "Article 4 (1) (d), of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by Canada on 11 March 2010, provides for the obligation of States parties to refrain from engaging in any act or practice that is inconsistent with the Convention."

[5] "if adopted, [ #BillC7 would not be consistent with Art. 3 Universal Declaration Human Rights, Art. 6(1) Int'l Cov Civil & Political Rights & Art. 10 #CRPD. #humanrights #MAID

[6] "The issue is not that Canada does not have latitude... The issue really concerns the underlying predicates of the legislation (pivoting as it does on disability) & how it expands the right to cover persons with disabilities who are not themselves close to death."

[7] "we wish to express OUR GRAVE CONCERN that provisions contained in #BILLC7 may be contrary to Canada’s international obligations to respect, protect and fulfill the core right of equality and non-discrimination of persons with disabilities."

[8] "equality is grounded on recognition of the inherent equal worth of each person with a disability – equal personhood. This recognition of equal human agency, personhood & inherent worth of all persons with disabilities underpin[s] its conception of ‘inclusive equality’ #CRPD"

[9] "most importantly, Art8 #CRPD (awareness raising) calls on States Parties to “nurture receptiveness to the rights of PwDs”, to “promote positive perceptions and greater social awareness towards PwD” & to “combat stereotypes, prejudices & harmful practices” relating to PwDs"

[10] "At a minimum, this would appear to require extra vigilance to ensure that public policy and legislative initiatives do not – even unwittingly – reinforce negative stereotypes or negative perceptions about disability and persons with disabilities."

[11] "Article 8 envisages a positive policy eco-system that takes great care to ensure that otherwise sound and well- intentioned legislation does not indirectly pivot on, or subtly reinforce, ableist assumptions in society"

[12] "hard to see how a legislative proposal that extends a right to MAID to PwD who are not themselves close to death could send a signal that is compatible with Art8 (obligations to combat ableism) combined with Art5 (obligation to secure equal respect for rights) of the #CRPD"

[13] "major concern must be that persons with a disability (and perhaps especially those with newly acquired impairment) may opt too readily for assisted dying, based on the internalisation of prejudices, fears and low expectations of living with a disability"

[14] "when considering legalizing any form of #MAID, States should conduct extensive discussions with organizations representing PwDs. Art.4.3 #CRPD seeks to reverse centuries of practice whereby the voices of PwDs were not heard in policy & legislative debates affecting them"

[15] "Those most directly affected by ableist assumptions – & legacy of ableist assumptions – must be heard and heeded. They are best placed to spot the unintended consequences of otherwise well-intentioned legislation, & their heightened sensitivity deserves the utmost respect."

[16] "What if the term ‘disability’ were to be removed from #BillC7? That would leave standing ‘serious and incurable illness, disease.’ However, what is a ‘serious and incurable illness, [or] disease’ but a disability?"

[17] "If adopted, we are concerned that this legislation would result in a two-tiered system in which some would get suicide prevention and others suicide assistance, based on their disability status and specific vulnerabilities."

[18] "we respectfully urge your Government to reflect on its international legal obligations when determining the underlying predicates and parameters of the proposed Bill....concerns appear heightened with respect to the #BillC7 irremediably entangled in ableist assumptions"

[19] who was/will be listening? @JustinTrudeau @CanadianPM @JahveedSingh @liberal_party @CP_canada @NDP @MatthewGreenNDP @MarciIen @Carolyn_Bennett @nathan @juliedabrusin @beynate @viraniarif @AnitaOakville