UN Human Rights Council Unanimously Adopts Resolution on Elimination of Discrimination against Persons Affected by LeprosyToward Society Free of Leprosy-Associated Misconceptions and Discrimination

The Nippon Foundation’s Chairman Yohei Sasakawa said, “I sincerely welcome the resolution adopted at the Human Rights Council, and I will continue my efforts to eliminate misconceptions and discrimination still deeply rooted in many parts of the world against those affected by leprosy and their family members.” Sasakawa currently serves the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination and Japanese Government Goodwill Ambassador for the Human Rights of Persons Affected by Leprosy.

His comment came after the unanimous adoption of the resolution on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members at the United Nations Human Rights Council at its 29th Session held in Geneva, Switzerland, on July 2. The resolution was submitted by the Government of Japan and was co-sponsored by 94 countries.

This resolution requests the United Nations Human Rights Council 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, to which the governments, relevant United Nations bodies and others were encouraged to give due consideration by a resolution submitted by Japan at the United Nations General Assembly in 2010. The current resolution also requests the Advisory Committee to submit a report containing practical suggestions for the wider dissemination and more effective implementation of the principles and guidelines to the Human Rights Council at its 35th session in June 2017.

Since the early 2000s, the Nippon Foundation has been actively promoting the need to focus on the human rights aspect of leprosy to the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant United Nations bodies, and has fully supported leprosy resolutions submitted by the Government of Japan at the Human Rights Council in 2008, 2009, and 2010, and again at the General Assembly in 2010. The current resolution is another step toward the realization of a society free from discrimination, and the Nippon Foundation expresses its utmost support.