GENEVA, Switzerland, September 1, 1989 - The International Commission of Health Professionals delivered a statement today to the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities part of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights supporting a claim by Canada's thalidomide victims for compensation from the federal government.

Dr. Charles Graves, executive director of the International Commission of Health Professionals (ICHP), delivered the statement which calls for the Canadian government to recognize its obligation to these individuals who were damaged by a drug licensed by the state. The ICHP is made up of medical doctors and other health professionals from around the world and has non- governmental organization status at the United Nations.

The ICHP worked closely with The War Amputations of Canada in order to draft the joint statement. The War Amps, which has UN consultative status as a non-governmental organization and formed the Thalidomide Task Force to address the needs of Canada's thalidomide victims, advised officials at the Humans Rights Committee in May that the Task Force would submit a claim for consideration. In September The War Amps will make a formal submission as to the right of the victims to compensation on the grounds that they had suffered a gross violation of their human rights.

The claim will be based on a contravention of Article 24 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states: "every child shall ave, without any discrimination . . . the right to such measures of protection as are required by his status as a minor, on the part of his family, society and the state."

Cliff Chadderton, who is chairman and founder of the Thalidomide Task Force, reports there is considerable interest in the thalidomide claim among the human rights community in Geneva. The support shown by the ICHP is just one example.

"The uniqueness of the thalidomide claim has caught the attention of many other non- governmental organizations at the Untied Nations," Chadderton stated. "If our claim before the Human Rights Committee is to succeed, it is essential that groups like the ICHP, which have mandates to deal with matters involving compensation and human rights, support the claim."

"The action taken by the International Commission of Health Professionals is certainly most welcome," Chadderton stated. "This kind of support by such a prestigious group is extremely critical to our efforts."

Dr. Graves, in delivering the statement, reported, "The International Commission of Health Professionals has been specifically concerned with individual human rights violations that involve a medical characteristic or which relate to the health and rehabilitation of a victim of such a violation.

"In this regard, one of the serious concerns that has developed in the field of human rights relates to the negative consequences that have resulted from the various drugs licensed by world governments. We have seen over the years a number of tragic developments arise from the licensing of drugs which have led to particularly severe and disabling results to children.

"The most compelling and horrifying illustration relates to the licensing of the drug thalidomide," stated Dr. Graves.

Graves also noted that many state governments did not meet their legal and moral obligations in regards to indemnifying and rehabilitating these victims. Many victims are currently confronted with severe problems and financial needs due to this lack of assistance.

"The current plight of Canadian thalidomide victims provides an unfortunate example of this," stated Dr. Graves. "They have not received appropriate compensation from their own government."

In conclusion, Dr. Graves called for the Subcommission to adopt a principle requiring countries to recognize their obligation to children damaged by drugs licensed by state governments and to appoint a special rapporteur to review the issue of compensation for victims whose human rights have been violated.

The problems faced by the victims in pursuing compensation either through the courts or through the political process would be alleviated if state governments compensated and/or rehabilitated the victims of such tragic circumstances.