Sign the petition: Stop discriminating against babies with Down's Syndrome
Please sign this petition to protect and defend these special babies against fatal discrimination!
MANY COUNTRIES ARE ON THE BRINK OF EXPANDING NATIONAL PRENATAL SCREENING PROGRAMS WITH A NEW GENERATION OF GENETIC TESTS AIMED AT DETECTING DOWN SYNDROME.
With abortion rates for babies with Down's Syndrome following prenatal diagnosis already higher than 90% in these countries, the result will be catastrophic.
While throughout the world we petition, walk, and meet together to fight against discrimination and to protect biodiversity, no-one should have to defend threats to their life because of his or her genetic make-up. In a humane world aware of the need for acceptance and inclusion of differences, people with Down syndrome should not be discriminated against.
I urge you to sign this petition to call upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, his United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the Commissioner for Human Rights from the Council of Europe, Mr Nils Muižnieks and the European Commissioner for the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Mr Frans Timmermans, to stop this eugenic discrimation again babies with Down's Syndrome by expressing 3 requirements to member States.
- Stop systematic prenatal screening programs that target Down syndrome and deliberately encourage abortion as part of public health programs.
- Regulate the introduction of prenatal genetic testing, based on the principles defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the Oviedo Convention (articles 11 and 12) and in the EU charter of Fundamental Rights (articles 2, 3, 21 and 26), the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (articles 5, 10, 14, 15, 23, 25).
- Allow the use of genetic testing solely to enhance human care and well-being, and not to discriminate against people on the basis of their genetic predisposition.
See more at www.stopdiscriminatingdown.com