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COSP15 - Canary in a Coalmine: The Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying/Euthanasia in Canada, A Warning to the Global Disability Community

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada legalized a pathway to euthanasia for people who are not terminally ill, provided they have a disability or disabling medical condition. In practice, people with disabilities are dying because they live in poverty, can’t secure affordable adequate housing, and are avoiding institutionalization. In 2023, people with a mental illness / psychiatric disability will also be eligible for euthanasia.

Disability advocates and DPOs are working in a coalition to challenge the law, arguing that it is the antithesis of disability inclusion and participation.

This COSP15 side event will provide a learning space for civil society, governments, and other actors in the international disability rights community to share insights from the Canadian assisted dying context. This session will discuss how Canada’s assisted dying legislation is discriminatory, outline how this is an alarming global trend, and build international solidarity.

The event is co-hosted by Inclusion Canada, ARCH Disability Law Centre, and Inclusion International. Opening Remarks to be provided by disability activists Catherine Frazee and Steven Estey.

The virtual event will take the form of a panel discussion, with short presentations from each panelist followed by a Q&A discussion with participants. Participants may submit questions during the event using the Q&A feature or send questions in advance to : forum@inclusioncanada.ca

Panelists Include:
• Gerard Quinn (International) – UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Krista Carr (Canada) – Inclusion Canada
• Kerri Joffe (Canada) - ARCH Disability Law Centre
• Rohini Peris (Canada) - Environmental Health Association of Québec, coalition member
• Gabrielle Peters (Canada) – Disability Filibuster, coalition member
• Alberto Vasquez (Peru) – Human rights lawyer

*CART and American Sign Language interpretation will be available.*

Jun 16, 2022 11:30 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)