Their leader, Stephen Harper, offered a fresh and palatable face for the party, but his opponents painted him as a closet extremist, who would gut Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

ECONOMIST: A mandate but no majority for Martin

In her 395-page ruling Ms Smith argued that suicide itself was not illegal, and therefore the ban denied the physically disabled the same rights as people who could take their own lives, breaking Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

BBC: Canada judge strikes down assisted suicide ban

The World Conference on Human Rights reaffirms the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights, and international law.

UNESCO: Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action