Statement by India during Agenda Item 3 Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Elimination of Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy and their Family Members at 56^th HRC Session (18 Jun - 12 Jul 2024) delivered by Mr. Kshitij Tyagi, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India

Geneva, 21 June 2024

Mr. President,

2. India remains strongly committed to leprosy elimination; providing preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitative services; and stopping stigma and discrimination. We have achieved enormous progress in leprosy control with our National Leprosy Eradication Programme, which has focused on treatment and mainstreaming of leprosy affected persons over the past four decades. The year 2005 was a milestone, when India achieved the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem with less than 1 case per 10,000 population.

3. In line with the Global Leprosy Strategy 2021-2030 and the WHO roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021-2030, India’s National Strategic Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy aims to achieve zero transmission by 2027, three years ahead of the SDG 3.3 target. The Strategic Plan and Roadmap focus on interruption of transmission and achieving zero indigenous cases, by accelerating case detection activities in high endemic districts and sustaining a strong surveillance system in low endemic districts, as well as a focus on increasing awareness to eliminate stigma and discrimination.

4. We will continue to make efforts towards early detection and providing equitable access to treatment and integrated services. We assure the Special Rapporteur of our continued full support to this important mandate.

Thank you