| 释义 |
- Early life
- Career
- References Citations Bibliography
Mercédes Benegbi (born 1962) is a Canadian disabilities activist who has been recognized for her advocacy for the rights of the disabled. In 2000, she was honored by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities and in 2014, she drove a successful initiative to gain support for the victims of thalidomide. Her efforts resulted in life-time compensation for Canadian "thalidomiders", as well as a special fund for specific medical treatments or modifications to homes and vehicles to accommodate their disabilities. Early lifeMercédes Benegbi was born in 1962 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to her Québécoise mother, Colette, and Moroccan father Marcos Benegbi. Her mother had been prescribed the drug thalidomide during her pregnancy, resulting in Benegbi being born with phocomelia. Her parents strongly advocated for her acceptance among other children and enrolled her in École Ernest Crepeau. She was also enrolled in the Montreal Rehabilitation Institute’s 20-year plan to assist victims and their families in meeting the everyday challenges their children would face.{{sfn|Trent|1969|p=81}}{{sfn|Dupuis|1997}} Her father invented a visor for Benegbi to use as a child to prevent her harming her face when she fell, as she had no arms to break her fall.{{sfn|Farag|2010}} As she was their only child, Benegbi's parents were supportive and at the same time, challenged her to excel and be as independent as she was able to be.{{sfn|Dupuis|1997}} CareerBenegbi has worked as a disability advocate for over twenty years, serving on the board of the Confederation of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities of Quebec ({{lang-fr|Confederation des Organismes de Personnes Handicapes du Quebec (COPHAN)}}), for which she was honored in 2000 by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.{{sfn|Council of Canadians with Disabilities|2013}} Since 2002, she has been the executive director of the Thalidomide Victims Association of Canada and has become one of the leading advocates for Canadian thalidomide victims.{{sfn|Leung|2014}} In 2014, Benegbi led a successful initiative to gain compensation from the Canadian government for the children whose lives were impacted by the approval of thalidomide for use in the country,{{sfn|Chase|Peritz|25 November 2014}}{{sfn|Chase|Peritz|1 December 2014}} after years of the government refusing to take responsibility for their failure to protect the victims.{{sfn|Farag|2010}} On-going health issues and lack of ability to work, caused by their permanent disabilities drove Benegbi to press for a compensation package similar to those victims of the drug in Europe had received.{{sfn|Sandle|2015}}{{sfn|Schlesinger|2015}} In 2015, the compensation plan was announced, which provides a tax-free, life-time pension for the "thalidomiters". It also provided a one-time lump sum payment as well as a special medical fund to enable victims to obtain surgeries specific to their conditions or adapting a home or vehicle for special needs.{{sfn|La Presse|2015}}{{sfn|Peritz|2015}} Benegbi has spoken throughout the world on the devastating effects to fetal development caused by thalidomide. In 2016, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Windsor.{{sfn|University of Windsor|2016}} References CitationsBibliography{{refbegin|30em}}- {{cite news|ref={{harvid|Chase|Peritz|25 November 2014}}|last1=Chase|first1=Steven|last2=Peritz|first2=Ingrid|title=Ottawa reaches out to thalidomide victims|url=http://cached.newslookup.com/cached.php?ref_id=123&siteid=2115&id=9713827&t=1416953611|accessdate=6 March 2017|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=25 November 2014|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada}}
- {{cite news|ref={{harvid|Chase|Peritz|1 December 2014}} |last1=Chase |first1=Steven |last2=Peritz |first2=Ingrid |title=Parliamentary motion for 'full support' for thalidomide survivors passes unanimously |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/thalidomide-survivors-set-deadline-for-federal-response-on-support/article21860466/ |accessdate=6 March 2017 |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=1 December 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823020015/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/thalidomide-survivors-set-deadline-for-federal-response-on-support/article21860466/ |archivedate=23 August 2016 |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |deadurl=yes }}
- {{cite news|ref=harv |last1=Dupuis |first1=Caroline |title=Deux victims se racontent |url=http://collections.banq.qc.ca:81/lapresse/src/cahiers/1997/01/05/03/82812_1997010503.pdf |accessdate=6 March 2017 |publisher=La Presse |date=5 January 1997 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306194523/http://collections.banq.qc.ca:81/lapresse/src/cahiers/1997/01/05/03/82812_1997010503.pdf |archivedate=6 March 2017 |location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada |page=C-2 |language=French |trans-title=French Two victims tell each other |deadurl=yes }}
- {{cite journal|ref=harv |last1=Farag |first1=Talaat I. |title=The Marathon of Hope (Part IX) |url=http://ambassadors.net/archives/issue28/educators.htm |accessdate=6 March 2017 |journal=The Ambassadors |date=July 2010 |volume=13 |issue=28 |publisher=The Ambassadors Research Association |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015230/http://ambassadors.net/archives/issue28/educators.htm |archivedate=5 November 2012 |location=Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |deadurl=yes }}
- {{cite news|ref=harv |last1=Leung |first1=Marlene |title=Thalidomide survivor says MPs' support was 'a pure moment of joy' |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/thalidomide-survivor-says-mps-support-was-a-pure-moment-of-joy-1.2128542 |accessdate=6 March 2017 |publisher=CTVNews |date=2 December 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811010614/http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/thalidomide-survivor-says-mps-support-was-a-pure-moment-of-joy-1.2128542 |archivedate=11 August 2015 |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |deadurl=yes }}
- {{cite news|ref=harv|last1=Peritz|first1=Ingrid|title=Thalidomide survivors cheer Ottawa’s new annual pension program|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ottawa-announces-annual-pensions-for-thalidomide-survivors/article24570399/|accessdate=6 March 2017|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=22 May 2015|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada}}
- {{cite news|ref=harv |last1=Sandle |first1=Tim |title=Thalidomide vicitims in Canada press further for justice |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/life/health/thalidomide-vicitims-in-canada-press-further-for-justice/article/424591 |accessdate=6 March 2017 |publisher=Digital Journal |date=27 January 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721045620/http://www.digitaljournal.com/life/health/thalidomide-vicitims-in-canada-press-further-for-justice/article/424591 |archivedate=21 July 2015 |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |deadurl=yes }}
- {{cite news|ref=harv |last1=Schlesinger |first1=Joe |title=The debt we owe Canada's thalidomide sufferers |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/the-debt-we-owe-canada-s-thalidomide-sufferers-1.2994289 |accessdate=6 March 2017 |publisher=CBC News |date=15 March 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108153720/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/the-debt-we-owe-canada-s-thalidomide-sufferers-1.2994289 |archivedate=8 November 2016 |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |deadurl=yes }}
- {{cite news|ref=harv|last1=Trent|first1=Bill|title='If I Had a Baby, How Would I Be Able to Carry It Around?' (pt 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9365571/the_ottawa_journal/|accessdate=6 March 2017|publisher=The Ottawa Journal|date=15 February 1969|location=Ottawa, Ontario, Canada|page=81|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} and {{cite news|title='If I Had a Baby, How Would I Be Able to Carry It Around?' (pt 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9365620/the_ottawa_journal/|accessdate=6 March 2017|publisher=The Ottawa Journal|date=15 February 1969|location=Ottawa, Ontario, Canada|page=82|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}} and {{cite news|title='If I Had a Baby, How Would I Be Able to Carry It Around?' (pt 3)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9365600/the_ottawa_journal/|accessdate=6 March 2017|publisher=The Ottawa Journal|date=15 February 1969|location=Ottawa, Ontario, Canada|page=83|via = Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}
- {{cite web|ref={{harvid|Council of Canadians with Disabilities|2013}} |author= |title=Award Recipients |url=http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/about/recipients |accessdate=6 March 2017 |website=Council of Canadians with Disabilities |date=2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428082447/http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/about/recipients |archivedate=28 April 2016 |location=Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |deadurl=yes }}
- {{cite news|ref={{harvid|La Presse|2015}}|author=|title=Ottawa commence à verser l'aide promise aux victimes de la thalidomide|url=http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/sante/201505/22/01-4871802-ottawa-commence-a-verser-laide-promise-aux-victimes-de-la-thalidomide.php|accessdate=6 March 2017|publisher=La Presse|date=22 May 2015|location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada|language=French|trans-title=Ottawa Commencement of Thalidomide Relief}}
- {{cite web|ref={{harvid|University of Windsor|2016}}|author=|title=Outstanding eight to receive honorary doctorates at Convocation|url=http://www.uwindsor.ca/dailynews/2016-06-07/outstanding-eight-receive-honorary-doctorates-convocation|website=Daily News|publisher=University of Windsor|accessdate=6 March 2017|location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada|date=9 June 2016}}
{{refend}}{{Authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Benegbi, Mercedes}} 8 : 1962 births|Living people|People from Montreal|Canadian people with disabilities|People with phocomelia|Canadian women|Canadian disability rights activists|Canadian people of Moroccan descent |