On 18^th June 2008, the 8^th United Nations Human Rights Council unanimously approved a resolution tabled by Japan on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy.

The resolution calls on governments to take effective measures to eliminate any type of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. China was one of 58 countries to co-sponsor this resolution.

However, in advance of the Beijing Olympics, China has published A Guideline to Chinese Law for Foreigners Coming to, Leaving or Staying in China during the Olympics. One of the stipulations is that persons who have leprosy are not allowed to enter their country.

Mr Sasakawa, in his role as the World Health Organization Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Leprosy, has written to the Chinese Premier Hu Jintao, President Liu Qi of the Beijing Organising Committee for the 2008 Summer Olympics and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, asking each of them to annul this ruling.

Banning people affected by leprosy from entering China to watch the coming Olympic Games would not only contravene the resolution approved on 18^th June by the UN Human Rights Council, but also provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

In addition, this law will further fuel irrational fear of leprosy and perpetuate misunderstanding. Leprosy is completely curable. Within two weeks of commencing treatment, patients are no longer infectious. Legal measures that compromise the rights of people affected by leprosy should be abolished.

The Olympic Games promote a spirit of inclusiveness. Thousands of people, from all walks of life, attend as spectators and many millions more watch the events on television and follow newspaper coverage. Barron Pierre de Coubertin who helped to establish the modern Olympiads did so because he considered them a way to bring nations together. He believed the important thing was to participate. The Chinese authorities should not be allowed to violate these basic principles by pursuing such discriminatory and nonsensical measures. 

Click here for the text of the United Nations Resolution: A/HRC/8/L.18 

Category: China, News and Notes