Statement by India under Agenda Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members at 44th Session of the Human Rights Council (30 June – 21 July 2020), delivered by Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India. [Geneva, 06 July 2020]

Madam President,

We thank the Special Rapporteur for presentation of her thematic report and appreciate her efforts for setting out a policy framework for rights-based action plans aimed to ensure equality for persons affected by leprosy and their family members.

2. We also take note of the four specific areas that she has identified in this regard, viz. economic autonomy, social inclusion, elimination of stereotypes and empowerment with a focus on the vulnerable groups.

Madam President,

3. As also mentioned by the SR in her report India has developed various ingenious ways to address the problems faced by the persons affected by leprosy. India is fully committed to both eradication of leprosy as well as de-stigmatization and elimination of discrimination faced by persons and affected families. For this, India has launched a widespread leprosy case detection campaign a few years back under the National Leprosy Elimination Programme.

4. In order to tackle high endemicity in a few pockets, 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.

5. While enacting our national legislation, ‘the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016’, the Government has amended various laws to remove the discriminatory provisions relating to leprosy cured persons.

Madam President,

5. We are of the view that the SR needs to continue creating more awareness on human rights related issues of leprosy. Therefore, we would like to inform the Council that India, together with a group of countries would propose to renew the mandate of the SR on leprosy during the current session. The extension of the mandate would also provide an opportunity to engage those countries which have already accepted visit requests from the SR. Visit reports of the SR would lead to further understanding in the Council about the implications of leprosy on human rights.

Thank you, Madam President.