The United Nations committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has repeatedly expressed its concern about how France's “Assistance in dying” law may affect people with disabilities.

After the National Assembly (lower house of the French parliament), approved the first version of the law on 27 May, the UN committee sent a letter to the French government, stating that they had “received credible information” indicating that if that law was approved, “it would result in an infringement of the duty of the State party to respect, protect and guarantee the right to life of persons with disabilities”.

Discrimination and lack of information

The UN committee warned that “the proposed eligibility criteria, appear to be based in ableist perceptions of the quality and value of the life of persons with disabilities, without recognition that inequality and discrimination cause and compound suffering for persons with disabilities”.

They were concerned about the lack of alternatives; the criminalization of those who attempt to prevent a person from dying by euthanasia, who “risk two years in prison and a €30,000 fine”; and the short two-day period between the person's request and their euthanasia.

The UN also pointed out that France does not give enough information on “mechanisms guaranteeing the right to choice of persons with disabilities, safeguards against coercion, undue influence, and abuse of power”.

Taking all that into account, the committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities opened an investigation, requiring France to provide further information on this law.

France responds

The UN reported that the Frech government responded them, stating that the draft law “has not been adopted, because it is currently in a first reading stage and its further discussion has been interrupted due to the dissolution of Parliament in June 2024”.

Furthermore, the cabinet clarified that “having a disability does not render a person more (or less) eligible for assistance in dying and that excluding persons with disabilities from it would be discriminatory and a violation of the principle of equality”.

France also informed the UN expert group that there is another draft law in first reading “aimed at ensuring equal access for all to palliative care and support”, which “in conjunction with the draft law on assistance in dying aims for improved quality of care services”.

Finally, the French government said the draft law uses “precise terminology, deliberately avoiding euthanasia and assisted suicide in favor of aide à mourir (Assistance in dying), underscoring dignity, autonomy, and the safeguards of the French model of end-of-life care”.

However, “it did not reply the committee’s concerns on statements from authorities disseminating misleading information and implying, incorrectly, that assistance in dying and similar concepts are aligned with the Convention oh Human Rights”, says the UN.

UN recommndations

Based on the information received, the committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has issued several non-binding recommendations to the French government.

It urges, “before continuing with the process of approval”, to “conduct a comprehensive assessment, in close consultation and with the active participation of persons with disabilities, on the foreseeable increased vulnerability for persons with disabilities if the law were approved”.

The UN now calls on France to “implement comprehensive measures for the provision of community-based mental health support, care and palliative services at home and personal assistance, and employment support for persons with disabilities”.

The committee also warns France to “prevent further public statements asserting that the committee recognize the right to die and conduct an outreach and awareness-raising campaign on the Convention and the rights of persons with disabilities”.

European Center for Law and Justice

This process is the direct result of a petition promoted by the European Center for Law and Justice (ECLJ), a Christian legal advocacy group, to the committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It has been signed by over 17,000 French citizens. The ECLJ sent the petition to the UN experts group in early April 2025.

Since 2022

French president Macron said he wanted to reopen the debate on the “right to die” in 2022, but it was not until 2024 when the process of the current draft law sarted.

Evangelical Christians in France have expressed their concerns about the “Assistance in dying” law, which is still in development and may not be approved until 2027.