HRC62 - EU General Comment - Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy/ Hansen’s disease and their family members

UN Human Rights Council
62^th session – Item 3
L.5 – General Comment

Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy/ Hansen’s disease and their family members  

EU General Comment

Mr. President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the EU Member States that are members of this Council. This general comment has been agreed by the EU as a whole.

We thank Japan, and the core group for presenting L.5 and for leading open, transparent and inclusive negotiations. We appreciate the gradual transition from the stigmatising and derogatory term “leprosy” and bringing to the forefront the medical term of this disease – the Hansen’s disease – by removing the brackets around it. 

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy/Hansen’s disease and their family members, has played a key role in bringing attention to this issue, highlighting challenges and supporting States including, on promoting implementation of the principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination. 

We especially commend the core group for its reflection on the achievements of the mandate, and its decision that it was time for it to be concluded. This recognises the progress achieved under the mandate while also making a valuable contribution to the Council's broader efforts towards rationalisation and efficiency. We invite other penholders and core groups to consider taking similar and comparable steps.

Mr. President,

While the Special Rapporteur mandate has concluded, and progress has been achieved, we emphasise the need to continue to promote and protect the human rights of persons affected by Hansen's disease.  The persistence of stigma and discrimination calls for more effective affirmative action from States, in order to address the intergenerational impacts of obsolete practices. The worldwide abolition of discriminatory legislation, mainstreaming of Hansen’s disease into broader human rights frameworks, and formal inclusion of affected persons in decision-making are some of the more urgently needed steps.

The European Union is pleased to support L.5 as presented by the core group and we call on this Council to adopt this resolution by consensus.

Thank you.