A/HRC/41/47 persistently silenced by structural disadvantage, low participation in the public sphere and generalized lack of access to information. 50. The Special Rapporteur undertook an online and individual consultation with persons affected by leprosy, their family members, health workers and non-governmental organization (NGO) personnel. A total of 575 responses were received from the following eight high-burden countries: Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, Nigeria and the Philippines. Responses were also received from Benin, Cabo Verde, China, Colombia, France, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Paraguay, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Venezuela. The majority of the responses came from India, Brazil and Myanmar. 51. Women affected by leprosy provided 31.9 per cent of the responses, men affected by leprosy 33.6 per cent, female family members of persons affected 9.8 per cent, male family members of persons affected 8 per cent and other categories, such as health and NGO workers, 16.7 per cent; 72 per cent of the respondents live in a rural area and the majority do not take part in any organization. Due to the limitation of available methods and required ethical procedures for consulting with children, it was not possible to consult with children affected by leprosy, as would have been desirable. 52. The data received were not broken down into demographic variables such as ethnicity and/or race, age, disability or socioeconomic conditions, since the consultation merely intended to provide a preliminary assessment able to identify generic areas of concern. Confidentiality was strictly ensured during data collection and processing. Collected data point to ongoing discrimination against women and children affected by leprosy (including female and underage family members) and allow for identifying the main areas where the human rights of both groups are jeopardized, unfulfilled and violated. 1. Harmful stereotypes and wrongful stereotyping 53. When asked about the traditional beliefs regarding leprosy, the majority of responses pointed to the persistence of religious beliefs (grounded in different religious traditions) that classify leprosy as the result of sins committed in current or past lives by the affected person or by the affected person’s ancestors; God’s punishment on the individual and/or the family; a curse pronounced by ancestors; sorcery; possession by evil spirits; and punishment for adultery and/or sexual promiscuity. Leprosy is also attributed to a particular race or caste and to women. Finally, erroneous misconceptions produced by late nineteenth century “modern” medicine, which held that leprosy was a hereditary disease or a highly contagious one transmitted by touch and without a cure, still prevail. Regarding discriminatory language, 52.3 per cent of the respondents confirmed that it is commonly employed. 54. When asked about the traditional practices regarding leprosy, responses evinced how harmful stereotypes about leprosy can lead to informal segregation and widespread exclusion by treating individuals as untouchable; segregating individuals within the household and also prohibiting them from leaving the house; divorce on the grounds of leprosy and prohibiting marriage with an affected person or any of his/her family members; barring individuals from participating in religious and community activities as well as in economic transactions; dismissing individuals from their jobs; pushing individuals into begging; and banishing individuals from the community. In fact, 42.7 per cent of the respondents confirmed that affected persons face rejection and/or segregation from their families and communities. 55. When asked if these traditional beliefs have a more adverse impact on women affected by leprosy than on men affected by leprosy, 45.5 per cent of the responses confirmed that this is the case, citing the following practices: driving out from the household without financial resources to ensure survival (which is at the root of a considerable number of affected women begging and/or selling sex); abuse within the household as a result of women experiencing difficulties in performing the role expected of them (due to pain and other physical impairments caused by leprosy); and lack of resources to fight against discrimination (including lack of access to justice). 10