Since the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted resolution 8/13 on 18^th June 2008 various steps have been taken to ensure that in future discriminatory behaviour towards people affected by leprosy and their family members will be both challenged and changed.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights held a consultation in Geneva on 15^th January 2009. Representatives of governments, observers of the United Nations, relevant United Nations bodies, specialised agencies and programmes, non-governmental organisations, scientists and medical experts and representatives of persons affected by leprosy and their family members exchanged views on the elimination of discrimination against people affected by leprosy. Mr Douglas Soutar, General Secretary of ILEP, was among the panellists who discussed discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. It was noted that 24 Governments have taken measures to eliminate discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members since the adoption of the resolution 8/13.

Mr Soutar, in his presentation, noted that while he welcomed the resolution, there was a danger that initiatives focusing only on the human rights of those affected by leprosy would risk failure unless a more inclusive and universal rights-based approach is taken.

He added that the human rights that pertain to people affected by leprosy should not be seen as relating only to health or disability.  Since people affected by leprosy have the same human rights as all people, specific practical strategies would also be needed to promote the obligations of States to respect, protect, fulfill and promote the rights enshrined in other existing covenants and conventions such as that pertaining to the rights of people with disabilities.

This consultation was followed by meetings of the United Nations Advisory Committee on 28^th and 29^th January 2009. Mr Shigeki Sakamoto, the Advisory Committee Expert who had been tasked with drafting a working paper on the subject of discrimination against people affected by leprosy, made a presentation on 28^th. He said applying a rights-based approach was necessary to address the stigma faced by all people affected by leprosy, including their family members. He emphasised how health and human rights reinforce and complement each other in the context of eliminating discrimination. In addition, he stressed the importance of promoting the dignity of the individual.

The meetings of 28^th and 29^th January resulted in the members of the Advisory Committee recommending the Human Rights Council to adopt the following measures:

• to welcome the working paper on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members;
• to endorse all the conclusions contained in the working paper;
• to request Mr Shigeki Sakamoto to formulate a draft set of principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members; and
• to request the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide Mr Sakamoto with all the assistance necessary to enable him to accomplish the above-mentioned task.

Click on link to read Mr Shigeki Sakamoto’s Working Paper on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy and their Family Members. 

Categories: News and Notes, Technical information