Leprosy

At its twenty-ninth session in June 2015, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 29/5 (A/HRC/RES/29/5) on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, in which it mandated the Advisory Committee to undertake a study which reviews the implementation of the principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, together with the obstacles thereto, and to submit a report containing practical suggestions for the wider dissemination and more effective implementation of the principles and guidelines in order to eliminate discrimination and the stigma associated with leprosy and to promote, protect and respect the human rights of those affected by leprosy, and their family members, to the Council at its thirty-fifth session (June 2017).

The resolution also ecourages the Advisory Committee, when elaborating the above-mentioned report, to take into account the views of Member States, as appropriate, relevant international and regional organizations, including the World Health Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant special procedures, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations, as well as the work done on the issue by relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes within their respective mandates.

Drafting group

At its fifteenth session in August 2015, the Committee established a drafting group for the preparation of the above-mentioned study. The following experts are currently members of the drafting group:

• Ms. Boisson de Chazournes
• Mr. Coriolano
• Ms. Crăciunean
• Mr. Obata (Chairperson)
• Mr. Soh, Mr. Soofi
• Mr. Yigezu (Rapporteur)
• Mr. Zhang

Also at the same session, the drafting group and the full Committee held meetings to discuss the topic and the questionnaires to be disseminated to Member States, relevant international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. The questionnaires were disseminated by the Committee in September 2015 to different stakeholders.

The drafting group submitted a preliminary report to the Advisory Committee at its sixteenth session in February 2016, and a progress report to the Advisory Committee (A/HRC/AC/17/CRP.1) at its seventeenth session in August 2016, taking into account the replies to the questionnaire.

In line with Council resolution 29/5, requesting the Committee to seek the views and inputs of different stakeholders, the following questionnaires were prepared and disseminated by the Committee in September 2015 and again in April 2016 to NGOs, Governments, National Human Rights Institutions, Special Procedures and international organizations, and the World Health Organization:

Principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members

In December 2010, the General Assembly adopted without a vote resolution 65/215, in which it noted with appreciation the principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, submitted to it by the Human Rights Council and prepared by the Advisory Committee. In its resolution, the General Assembly also encouraged Governments, the United Nations system, other intergovernmental organizations and national human rights institutions to give due consideration to the Principles and Guidelines in the formulation and implementation of their policies and measures concerning persons affected by leprosy and their family members.

The principles and guidelines, as adopted, are contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on its fifth session (A/HRC/AC/5/2).

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Background:

In its resolution 8/13, the Council requested OHCHR to hold a meeting to exchange views among relevant actors, including Governments, observers of the United Nations, relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and programmes, NGOs, scientists, medical experts, as well as representatives of persons affected by leprosy, and their family members, on measures to eliminate leprosy-based discrimination, and to transmit a report thereon to the Council and the Advisory Committee (A/HRC/10/62). It also requested the Committee to examine the report and to formulate a draft set of principles and guidelines to eliminate discrimination against persons affected by leprosy, and their family members, and to submit it to the Council for its consideration by September 2009.

At its first session, the Advisory Committee designated Mr. Sakamoto to formulate the above-mentioned draft set of principles and guidelines.

In its resolution 12/7, the Council requested OHCHR to collect the views of relevant actors, including Governments, observers of the United Nations, relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and programmes, NGOs, scientists and medical experts, as well as representatives of persons affected by leprosy and their family members on the first draft set of principles and guidelines, and to make those views available to the Committee.

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At its fifth session, the Committee considered and endorsed the finalized set of principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members and submitted it to the Council for its consideration at its fifteenth session.

In its resolution 15/10, the Council took note with appreciation of the set of Principles and Guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members and invited the General Assembly to consider, as appropriate, the issue of the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, including possible ways to promote further the Principles and Guidelines.