RES/29/5 Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members

Human Rights Council Twenty-ninth session

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 2 July 2015

29/5. Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by

leprosy and their family members

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes, principles and provisions of the Charter of the United

Nations,

Guided also by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and recalling relevant

international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Economic,

Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Elimination

of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the

Child,

Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007 on institution-

building of the Council,

Recalling also Human Rights Council resolutions 8/13 of 18 June 2008, 12/7 of 1

October 2009 and 15/10 of 30 September 2010, and General Assembly resolution 65/215 of

21 December 2010,

Recalling further the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and

interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recalling that leprosy is curable and that the human rights of persons with leprosy

could be better protected by treatment provided in the early stages that can prevent

disability,

Deeply concerned that, in various parts of the world, persons affected by leprosy and

their family members continue to face barriers to their participation as equal members of

society and violations and abuses of their human rights, and conscious that greater attention

is needed to address these challenges,

Reaffirming that persons affected by leprosy and their family members, including

women and children, should be treated with dignity and are entitled to the enjoyment of all

human rights and fundamental freedoms under customary international law, relevant

conventions and national constitutions and laws,

Recognizing that persons affected by leprosy and their family members still face

multiple forms of prejudice and discrimination stemming from misinformation about and

misunderstanding of the disease throughout the world,

Recognizing also that specific attention is needed to address all forms of

discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members,

Bearing in mind the need to intensify efforts to eliminate all forms of prejudice and

discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members throughout the

world,

Stressing the importance of implementing the principles and guidelines for the

elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members,

submitted by the Advisory Committee in 2010,See A/HRC/15/30, annex. to which Governments, relevant United

Nations bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, other intergovernmental

organizations and national human rights institutions were encouraged to give due

consideration in Council resolution 15/10 and General Assembly resolution 65/215

respectively,

1. Requests the Advisory Committee, from within existing resources, 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 Human Rights Council at its thirty-fifth session;

2. Encourages 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;

3. Calls upon Governments, relevant United Nations bodies, specialized

agencies, funds and programmes, other intergovernmental organizations, national human

rights institutions and non-governmental organizations to cooperate with the study of the

Advisory Committee;

4. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

42nd meeting

2 July 2015

[Adopted without a vote.]