This happened a few months ago, but in light of recent events in Charlottesville, it is timely.
Charlotte Helene Fien, 21, has Down Syndrome and autism. She sent her speech to the British House of Lords, from where it was forwarded to the United Nations Human Rights Committee at the United Nations, Geneva. where she delivered it in person on March 20.
The text:
Good afternoon my name is Charlotte Helene Fien.
I am 21 years old and have Down's syndrome and Autism.
In the 1930's and 1940's the Nazis decided to get rid of all disabled people.
More than 200,000 disabled people were murdered including many children with Down's syndrome.
Today, the same thing is happening.
A test that checks for Down's syndrome is being used to kill all babies with Down's syndrome.
In Iceland, Denmark and China not a single baby with Downs Syndrome has been born for 7 years, SEVEN YEARS!
The goal is to eradicate Down's syndrome in future.
This makes me angry and very sad.
I have Down's syndrome.
I am not suffering.
I am not ill.
None of my friends who have Down's syndrome are suffering either.
We all live happy lives.
We go out to the pub,
have dinner parties at my friend Aimee's house,
have boyfriends and
have plans and goals for the future!
We just have an extra chromosome we are still human beings.
We are human beings.
We are not monsters
don't be afraid of us.
We are people with different abilities and strengths.
Don't feel sorry for me,
my life is great!
My goals are to find a job I love.
I love golf and would like to teach children to play.
I've been playing golf since I was 6 years old.
I want to live independently one day and support myself with my job.
I already travel on my own to different places even abroad.
Don't be afraid of me or feel sorry for me.
I'm just like you
I'm just like you but different.
I have an extra chromosome
it's not stopping me from enjoying my life.
Please do not try to kill us all off.
Do not allow this test.
If you do allow it you are no better than the Nazis
who killed 200,000 disabled people.
I have a right to live
and so do other people
like me"
YouTube link to hear her speak - https://youtu.be/1Xqku6RwaAY
