Great to see so many members of the Inclusion International network together at #COSP19. Bringing self-advocates, families, and organisations together strengthens our movement and our work for inclusion and rights worldwide.

Continuing our work at the United Nations this week, Inclusion Canada was honoured to be invited by Disabled People's International (DPI) Korea to participate in the Pacific Partners Roundtable on Disability Rights. We shared insights on CRPD implementation, monitoring, and disability legislation in Canada, and were inspired to learn about the progress Korean parliamentarians have made in embedding the CRPD into domestic law. We also reflected on the Korean proverb baekjijangdo matdeulmyeon natda (백지장도 맞들면 낫다) — “Even a sheet of paper is lighter when lifted together.” It is a powerful reminder that advancing disability rights is a shared responsibility and that meaningful progress is achieved through collaboration, partnership, and solidarity across borders. As we work toward a more inclusive world, this sentiment reminds us that lasting progress on disability rights is built through collaboration, mutual learning, and solidarity across countries and communities. #DisabilityRights #COSP19 #CRPD

A special committee of MPs and Senators has been hearing testimony since March on whether to widen Canada’s assisted suicide law. Inclusion Canada CEO Krista Carr offers the full picture of the country’s dangerous MAID system. She calls on Parliament to say no to expansion for persons whose sole medical condition is a mental illness and scale back MAID eligibility to what was originally intended in 2016.   Track 2 MAID which discriminates against persons with disabilities must be rescinded. This piece is being distributed throughout the country. sudbury.com/columns/guest-co…

Day 3 at the UN Continues 🇺🇳 "In my country, the worst abuse does not always hide in the shadows. Sometimes it wears a suit and calls itself policy." Speaking today at the United Nations, Inclusion Canada CEO Krista Carr delivered a passionate message about the human rights challenges still facing people with intellectual disabilities in Canada. "In Canada, if you are in despair and you do not have a disability, the state fights to keep you alive. If you have a disability, it now offers to help you die. Same pain. Two answers." More than one person with a disability accesses MAiD under Track 2 every day. The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has called on Canada to repeal these provisions, recognizing the discriminatory impact they have on persons with disabilities. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the #CRPD, we must do more than celebrate progress. We must confront the policies, systems, and practices that continue to deny people with disabilities equality, dignity, and belonging. We will continue to speak truth to power, challenge discrimination wherever it exists, and amplify the voices of people with disabilities and their families—at home, at the United Nations, and around the world. Every person has a need and inherent right to be valued, respected and empowered to reach their full potential. See video link to Krista's full remarks at the UN 👇 youtube.com/watch?v=mJUGU32y… #COSP19 #DisabilityRights

Inclusion Canada and other civil society representatives met this morning with Ambassador Michael Gort, Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York, along with Canada's COSP CRPD Head of Delegation Parliamentary Secretary Leslie Church - to discuss Canada’s international disability inclusion and accessibility priorities. Inclusion Canada spoke about the adoption of the UN guidelines on deinstitutionalization, including in emergencies; the drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons and its intersections with the CRPD; and Canada's implementation of recommendations by the UN Committee in the 2025 Concluding Observations. Inclusion Canada is committed to ensuring that the barriers people face at home are reflected in international discussions and that global human rights commitments lead to meaningful change in communities across the country. #COSP19 #CRPD #DisabilityRights

The Inclusion Canada & People First of Canada National Task Force on Deinstitutionalization is pleased to announce an update to The Right Way. This is a resource from our task force. This updated version is called “The Right Way: A guide to closing institutions and building a good life in the community for people with intellectual disabilities.” The first version of this guide was created in 2010, and it’s been used all over the world! This updated version includes quotes, photos and new information to help with closing institutions of all sizes. We encourage government leaders, community groups, families and individuals to read this and use the resource as the “Right Way” to close institutions and as the “Right Way” to create independent living in the community. This updated resource is ready to use in both French and English! You can find it on our website at institutionwatch.ca/the-righ…

We encourage you to subscribe to our monthly newsletter! It is packed with a lot of good information, updates from throughout the country along with some upcoming events. In case you missed our most recent one, catch up on some news updates, our open letter to Prime Minister Carney signed by 90 disability and mental health organizations throughout Canada, along with the date for our Federal Policy Forum on Inclusion! myemail.constantcontact.com/…... To sign up, visit this link and please encourage others in the Inclusion movement to do the same. Thank you! conta.cc/40kTIyR

🔴 LIVE at the UN General Assembly Hall #COSP19 is underway. Special Rapporteur Heba Hagrass: "I remain committed to efforts grounded in human rights, equality, and leadership of persons with disabilities."

We are back for Day 2 of our meetings at the United Nations today. The 19th session of the Council of State Parties #COSP19 has officially begun. Key speakers this morning are Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN and Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Heba Hagrass, both speaking to the 20th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We have several bilateral meetings planned for today and will be posting some updates later today. In photo - Inclusion Canada president Moira Wilson. #LetsMakeItOurs #COSP19 #CRPD20

Inclusion Canada applauds Parliamentarians for unanimously supporting Bill S-228 at third and final reading today in Ottawa. We support Bill S-228, which clarifies that forced and coerced sterilization is aggravated assault under the Criminal Code of Canada. Under Alberta and British Columbia’s eugenic sexual sterilization laws, which were repealed in the 1970s, at least 3000 people were sterilized. Some, now seniors, have been following Bill S-228, including Roy Skoreyko a member of our Board of Directors who was sterilized at an institution in Alberta. We especially want to thank Senator Yvonne Boyer for introducing this bill and for her foresight to recognize and include people with intellectual disabilities in the purpose of the legislation. In addition to protecting Indigenous women, Bill S-228 will protect people with an intellectual disability of all sexes. This is vitally important, because people with an intellectual disability continue to be sterilized today. Bill S-228 exists because of the strong advocacy of Indigenous women and we are grateful for their leadership. Indigenous women were disproportionately likely to be sterilized under sexual sterilization laws.  Bill S-228 is worth celebrating. For more information about Roy’s story and his determination to fight against abuse and advocate for disability rights: youtube.com/watch?v=U-4VKS4Z… Thank you also to @PeopleFirstCA for its continued advocacy and to all MPs and Senators who supported this legislation.

Inclusion Canada, in partnership with @IDA_CRPD_Forum, is now hosting a side event entitled: After the Committee Speaks - Turning Concluding Observations into Domestic Action at the Convention's 20th Anniversary. The side event is examining the formal mechanisms that State Parties use to receive, process, and act on concluding observations, discuss the role of Article 33 monitoring framework, discuss case studies from other jurisdictions, and identify strategies to push implementation forward. The panel is being moderated by Inclusion Canada President, Moira Wilson and consists of panel members: Chris Sutton, Accessibility Commissioner, Canada Human Rights Commission, Hon. Carla Qualtrough, former federal minister, Fatma Wangare, Inclusion Africa, Stephanie Gotlib, @InclusionIntl , and @KristaCarrNB , CEO Inclusion Canada. #CSFCRPD #CRPD20

Happening RIGHT NOW at the UN: #CSFCRPD, in advance of #COSP19 Today is the Civil Society Forum, when organizations of persons with disabilities from around the world come together to set a shared agenda. This is happening the day before COSP19 begins when governments take the floor. It is one of the world's largest gatherings on disability rights, as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities marks its 20th anniversary. #CRPD20 Inclusion Canada is here as part of Canada's civil society delegation, alongside Canadian Youth Delegate Ainsley Wood. Today our President, Moira Wilson, a parent of a person with an intellectual disability and one of the family leaders this movement is built on, will speak on creating a world free from exploitation, violence and abuse for all persons with disabilities. We will also host a side-event today on Turning Concluding Observations into Domestic Action. Why we show up? Canada signed a treaty promising equal rights for persons with disabilities. This week the world is examining whether Canada is keeping it's promises. We are led and governed by people with lived experience, including people with intellectual disabilities and family members. We are here to ensure the voices of people with intellectual disabilities—especially those with significant disabilities and those who communicate in different ways—are represented and heard. What gets said here does not stay here. It comes home. To Parliament and to the courts. Stay tuned for more updates. #COSP19 #CSFCRPD #CRPD20

National Indigenous History Month is a time to learn about the histories, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. For Inclusion Canada, this is also a time to reflect on the ways colonial systems have shaped disability experiences in Indigenous communities. Across the country, Indigenous leaders, families, and advocates are working to strengthen disability supports rooted in culture, community, and self-determination. We encourage everyone to learn from Indigenous people and organizations leading this work. Our friends at @BCANDS1 have a lot of helpful resources related to the intersection of the Indigenous and disability communities. Please check them out: bcands.bc.ca

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the strength, diversity, and leadership of 2SLGBTQIA communities. Many people live at the intersection of disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Their experiences remind us that inclusion must always be viewed upon as intersectional. At Inclusion Canada, we believe everyone deserves to live with dignity, safety, and belonging in their communities. Throughout Pride Month we celebrate the voices, leadership, and contribution of 2SLGBTQIA people with disabilities and reflect on how we can continue building more inclusive and welcoming communities for everyone. Happy Pride Month!