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Good afternoon,
The Canadian Human Rights Commission is pleased to appear before the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities during its 32nd session and on the occasion of Canada's 2nd and 3rd periodic review.
My name is Charlotte-Anne Malischewski, and I am the Interim Chief Commissioner of the Commission. I am a white woman with brown hair and I'm wearing glasses.
I am joined here today by my colleague Marcella Daye.
As you know, the Commission is Canada's national human rights institution, accredited with A status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions since 1999.
In 2019, the Commission was also designated as the National Monitoring Mechanism under article 33(2) of the Convention. It is primarily in that capacity that we appear before you today.
In recent years we have been encouraged to see action on key issues that impact disability communities in Canada, including legislation relating to accessibility, housing and financial supports. These are welcome, and long overdue.
However, as people with disabilities have shared time and time again, meaningful progress remains elusive and there is still much work to be done.
We have provided this Committee with a submission highlighting issues and recommendations. Many have been raised by civil society groups across Canada, some of whom are here in the room with us.
There are 3 broad issues I'd like to highlight today.
First, Canada's approach to disability rights must be improved.
We need more meaningful data.
- People with disabilities make up more than 27% of our population and yet there is a lack of quality, comprehensive data on the realities they face.
- Also not adequately represented are intersectional groups of people with disabilities, such as Indigenous, Black and other racialized people, women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, children and youth, people with non-traditional forms of disability, and people living in poverty.
We need Canada to honour the principle of Nothing Without Us.
- People with disabilities have distinct, diverse and unique lived experiences.
- But they do not feel heard.
- This is especially true for those in prisons, those living in institutions, or those experiencing homelessness.
- Their perspectives and expertise must be meaningfully included and valued, and nothing should be decided without them.
And we need Canada to significantly improve outcomes for people with disabilities.
- A long history of structural ableism, compounded by a lack of timely action to improve the rights of people with disabilities, has eroded trust that must now be rebuilt.
- This includes ensuring that systems designed to protect the rights of people with disabilities are made by and for people with disabilities.
The second issue I would like to highlight is socioeconomic inequality.
Too many people with disabilities in Canada lack access to the basic supports and services they need to live with dignity – including health care, medication and equipment.
The rising cost of living is widening socioeconomic gaps, disproportionately impacting people with disabilities, as they face higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and homelessness.
A lack of adequate and accessible housing continues to force them into unsafe and unacceptable living situations.
It can all add up to a point of crisis faced with immense systemic inequalities, some people with disabilities are turning to medical assistance in dying because they feel they do not have any other options.
And this is terrifying.
Even one of these tragedies is too many.
Canada must do better.
The final issue I would like to highlight today is the effective implementation of this Convention.
People with disabilities deserve to know more about how the Convention is being implemented in Canada.
They want to see it making a tangible difference in their daily lives.
We remain concerned about Canada's lack of progress in implementing the recommendations that have come from the international human rights system, including from this Committee.
Our work as Canada's National Monitoring Mechanism cannot be done alone or in isolation.
Canada needs a strong framework for implementation and monitoring in order to drive meaningful and coordinated progress, and to meet its obligations.
In closing, we at the Commission believe that things can be better that the trust between Canada and disability communities can be rebuilt.
Canada's presence here today demonstrates a willingness to engage on these important issues.
We know there is a desire to make meaningful change, and we offer our support and collaboration.
We are grateful to civil society and to disability communities for their tireless advocacy and dedication to human rights, and we look to them as partners.
We are hopeful that Canada will renew and invest in the critical work to monitor this Convention, with civil society playing a key role.
We look forward to a future where everyone in Canada can live a life with dignity, equality and respect.
Thank you for your time.
Charlotte-Anne Malischewski
Interim Chief Commissioner
Canadian Human Rights Commission