1952 – Groups Petition the United Nations to Amend the Declaration of Human Rights to Include Euthanasia

The British and American Euthanasia Societies submit a petition to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to amend the UN Declaration of Human Rights to include “the right of incurable sufferers to euthanasia or merciful death… Inasmuch as this right is, then, not only consonant with the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration of Human Rights but essential to their realization, we hereby petition the United Nations to proclaim the right of incurable sufferers to euthanasia.”

Eleanor Roosevelt, the Chairperson of the Commission, did not present the petition to the Commission.