Statement by India at the 38^th Session of the Human Rights Council (18 June to 06 July, 2018) on Agenda Item 3: Clustered Interactive Dialogue with SR on Health and SR on Leprosy, delivered by Dr. Sumit Seth, Counsellor. [18 June 2018, Geneva]

Mr. President,

We thank both SRs on the presentation of their reports.

2. We concur with the SR on health that deprivation of liberty and confinement, when they are used as widespread forms of addressing various social issues create an environment that is detrimental to the enjoyment of the right to physical and mental health. We agree that it will be difficult to achieve the SGD3 on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well- being for all without addressing indiscriminate use of detention and confinement.

3. We support the view of the SR on Leprosy that specific attention should be given to those living in vulnerable conditions, particularly in areas where leprosy-related discrimination is widespread. Simultaneously, we must take into account the national and local realities while doing so. We agree that every effort should be made to remove widespread, institutionalized and structural discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. We are committed to both eradication of leprosy by 2020 as well as de-stigmatization, and elimination of discrimination faced by affected persons and families.

4. With this view, India has launched a widespread leprosy case detection campaign a few years back under the National Leprosy Elimination Programme. While, we have achieved considerable success, a few pockets have shown a high endemicity. In order to tackle this, a three pronged strategy such as Leprosy Case Detection Campaign for High Endemic Districts, Focused Leprosy Campaign for Hot Spots and Case Detection in Hard to Reach areas are being implemented. We are confident that we would be able to eradicate Leprosy by 2020.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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