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Human Rights
CCD's work in the area of Human Rights and Equality Rights apprises judges, law-makers and other decision-makers about how disability must be taken into consideration in all areas of community life, thus ensuring Canadians with disabilities have full enjoyment of their human and equality rights. The Canadian Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities and the Equality Rights Section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees people with disabilities equal benefit and protection before and under the law.
CCD's Human Rights Committee monitors court cases and law reform which could affect persons with disabilities, guides CCD's legal interventions, analyzes human rights/equality rights questions for the CCD National Council and provides recommendations on possible courses of action.
Recent Work
May 11, 2013
Yvonne Peters, Gwen Brodsky, Ravi Malhotra Discuss Inclusion After the Moore Case
Along with others, some members of the CCD Human Rights Committee share their views on the impact of the Moore case. Read more.
April 23, 2013
Prejudice Erodes Free Choice in End of Life Decision-making
Rather than a steady diet of the pathos of Susan Griffiths’ story, Free Press readers would be better served by an informed discussion of how cultural practices toward disability affect end of life choices; the need for procedural safeguards if assisted suicide is decriminalized and how decriminalization of assisted suicide will not disrupt the power imbalance between doctors and patients to the point where the Susan Griffiths of the world will receive assisted suicide on demand. Read more.
April 23, 2013
Suicide Celebration Instead of Suicide Prevention
23 April 2013, WINNIPEG, MB – According to media reports, Susan Griffiths’ assisted suicide will likely occur on Thursday (25 April 2013) at a Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland. Members of the Canadian disability community, who oppose assisted suicide, are available to discuss their concerns about assisted suicide with the media on Wednesday (24 April 2013) and Thursday (25 April 2013). Their contact information is listed below. Read more.
More on Human Rights
April 3, 2013
Canada's MPs Hear from CCD about Our Opposition to Assisted Suicide
March 18, 2013
CCD AND CACL TO TESTIFY AT CARTER APPEAL (Assisted Suicide) HEARING
March 18, 2013
Frequently Asked Questions about Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
March 15, 2013
Assisted Suicide Case and Canadians with Disabilities Opposition
March 1, 2013
Assisted Suicide Case and Canadians with Disabilities Opposition
February 5, 2013
DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS QUESTION EFFORTS TO LEGALISE ASSISTED SUICIDE DURING SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK
Jim Derksen views inaccessible York Street Steps in Ottawa. CCD intervened in the Brown Case, which challenged an inadequate accommodation developed for the Steps.
January 26, 2004
Twenty Years of Litigating for Disability Equality Rights: Has it Made a Difference?
This paper traces the evolution of disability equality rights; from demanding recognition and inclusion in human rights law, to becoming experienced litigatiors for a substantive vision of equality in Canada. Read more.
The Latimer Case
The Latimer case directly concerned the rights of persons with disabilities. Mr. Latimer's view was that a parent has the right to kill a child with a disability if that parent decides the child's quality of life no longer warrants its continuation. CCD explained to the court and to the public how that view threatens the lives of people with disabilities and is deeply offensive to fundamental constitutional values. Learn more.