Officials Ban Television Commercial to Commemorate World Down Syndrome Day

Country: France

Date of incident: November 22, 2016


Television officials rejected as "inappropriate" an award-winning video featuring several people with Down syndrome responding to a letter from a frightened woman whose unborn baby had been diagnosed with the disorder.

On Nov. 10, the French State Counsel rejected the 2-minute ad as “inappropriate” for French television, according to the report. Their decision upheld a previous ruling by the French Broadcasting Counsel. Renate Lindeman, a disability rights advocate with Downpride and Saving Down Syndrome wrote: The State Counsel said that allowing people with Down syndrome to smile was “inappropriate” because people’s expression of happiness was “likely to disturb the conscience of women who had lawfully made different personal life choices”. The Lejeune Foundation is challenging the decision to the European Court for Human Rights, according to the report. A petition, organized by the Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment, also asks the French government to end the discriminatory ban on the video.  Source: Life Site News