A/HRC/41/47 treatment for leprosy and individuals who had been cured of leprosy. It has also been suggested that this expression encompasses family members of persons affected by leprosy. 12. The Special Rapporteur makes use of the expression “persons affected by leprosy” in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 35/9 and due to the lack of an alternative terminology emerging from a self-identification process. Notwithstanding, she targets the knowledge gaps that persistently represent persons affected by leprosy as a homogeneous group. B. The principles and guidelines as a road map towards formal and substantive equality 13. The principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members simultaneously draw inspiration from the provisions of legally binding human rights instruments 8 and recognize persons affected by leprosy and their family members as a group of individuals in need of special measures for eliminating the root causes that perpetuate substantive discrimination against them. 14. The principles and guidelines are thus in agreement with general comment No. 20 (2009) on non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The principles and guidelines clarify the normative content of legally binding international human rights instruments, providing guidance on how to enforce human rights in the specific context of the systemic and structural violation of the human rights of persons affected by leprosy and their family members. 15. Firstly, the principles and guidelines are an example of non-treaty standards that reinforce customary law. International human rights norms prohibit inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as arbitrary detention. Such is the point of departure of the principles and guidelines, which recognize the massive violation of the human rights of persons affected by leprosy and their family members through the enactment of discriminatory policies and institutionalized practices. The principles and guidelines condemn the results of the aforementioned policies and practices, which have contributed to systematic and widespread violations. 16. Secondly, the principles and guidelines embody the fundamental values of international human rights norms. Therefore, they reaffirm and seek to reinforce compulsory general principles of human rights as established by several treaties and conventions such as dignity, non-discrimination and equality. 17. Thirdly, the multilayered discrimination on the grounds of leprosy calls for acknowledging multiple intersections of leprosy with gender, ethnicity and/or race, age, disability, migration and poverty. This also means that in order to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of leprosy, persons affected by leprosy and their family members are entitled to the rights established for these different social groups and they should be enforced accordingly. 18. In sum, the principles and guidelines underpin the normative integration of several international human rights instruments, interpreting and translating legally binding norms in close connection with the conditions and needs of the particular group of persons affected by leprosy and their family members. They provide States with a road map for monitoring the situation of persons affected by leprosy and their family members and for implementing measures that, by enforcing international human rights law, can guarantee formal and substantive equality. 8 4 Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Convention on the Rights of the Child; Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.