The impact of the European Union on the rights of people with disabilities

Between 1938 and 1945, the Nazi regime ruled Germany and parts of Europe. In France, the Nazis were supported by the French government called the Vichy Government.There were many people with disabilities who were killed. Those who suffered under Nazi and Vichy regimes, are now in danger of being forgotten by the French people. This is why a project was set up in order to keep their memory alive. It started with a petition asking for a memorial to be bulilt, and about 94 000 people have signed it. The French president also supports this initiative.

Should the world forget the tragic fate of the children, women and men with disabilities who were killed by the Nazi regime or condemned to die by the Vichy regime? 94,000 people responded “no.” France has decided to act.

In 2013, a national appeal was launched proposing a symbolic action to recognize the people with disabilities killed by the Nazi regime and the Vichy government which collaborated with Germany. A petition on the matter was launched raised about 94 000 signatures. The petition requested that a memorial be erected for all of those exterminated by the Nazi regime or condemned to die by the Vichy regime, purely because of their disabilities.

The remembrance mobilization has proven successful: in a letter, French president Hollande called out his support for the petition by saying that he shares the desire of not forgetting the tragedies that took place, and that gestures can be made in order to recall what happened to the victims. Additionally, over a hundred high-profile personalities, such as artists, journalists, politicians and intellectuals have declared their support for the project. Amongst others, directors of the film ‘Les Intouchables’, Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, who produced a support video for the occasion.

In line with this project, there was the 70th anniversary of the Second World War memorial for which the president invited the Scientific Council.     The Scientific Council is an important advisory council affiliated with the French universities and the Board of Education. It has the expertise to come up with specific ways into properly honoring and remembering the victims of the Nazi and Vichy regimes.

UNAPEI, a French organization representing people with intellectual disabilities and their families, considers these initiatives to be an important first step. The organization said that France is following the footsteps of Germany, a country that already inaugurated a memorial in September 2014 for victims with disabilities of the Nazi regime.

To read the original article in French, click here.
To watch the support video, click here.