A/HRC/35/38 have been undertaken through national leprosy programmes (or equivalent) run by Ministries of Health and by national human rights institutions and focused mainly on training health workers and providing education to local communities. The principles and guidelines have been disseminated in print form, through electronic media and in workshops and annual events, such as World Leprosy Day. 12 25. Most of the activities to raise awareness and disseminate the principles and guidelines, including translation into local languages, had been undertaken by associations of persons affected by leprosy in their respective countries. However, it was pointed out that such awareness-raising activities, including the use of the principles and guidelines as a standard, were far from adequate or were limited to certain sectors of society. Many NGOs indicated that there were few or no visible policies or action plans prepared by their respective Governments to raise awareness specifically about leprosy or to disseminate the principles and guidelines, although there might be policies and strategies in place for promoting non-discrimination in general or towards specific groups — such as persons with disabilities — which might also apply to persons with disabilities who were also affected by leprosy.13 26. With respect to non-endemic countries or countries with few leprosy cases, although most of them were aware of the principles and guidelines, there was no practical necessity to take any particular action, mostly owing to the favourable epidemiological situation regarding leprosy in those countries. B. Participation and consultation in decision-making processes 27. The responses received showed that some States had taken certain positive steps towards enabling persons affected by leprosy to consult on issues that affected them and to participate in decision-making processes on such issues. 28. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare held annual conferences on measures to be taken regarding Hansen’s disease. At the conferences, persons affected by leprosy gave advice on issues that concerned them as well as suggestions on how to improve policies already in place. The Ministry took into account the outcomes of the discussions at the annual conferences when formulating other policies and laws. 14 The 2009 Act on Promoting the Resolution of Hansen’s Disease Issues specifically states that the Government shall take the necessary measures to reflect the opinions of persons affected by Hansen’s disease and other relevant persons in the formulation and implementation of measures concerning persons affected by leprosy as well as the establishment of forums for consultation. 29. In India, organizations of persons affected by leprosy had a strong voice and were invited by relevant government authorities to meetings concerning them at the district, state and national levels. Those organizations had influenced government policies and measures to a certain extent but still had a long way to go. Self-help groups had been formed, peer group discussions had been held and local communities decided on the support required by persons affected by leprosy. There was better participation of persons affected by leprosy in discussions on issues concerning them among organizations working in the field.15 30. In Brazil, MORHAN was a strong force at the national level. It often had a seat on the National Health Council and participated actively in national, state and municipal health conferences. The organization undertook evaluations every three years of government promises concerning the human rights and health care of persons affected by leprosy and had noted more openness on the part of the Government with regard to policy and 12 13 14 15 Reponses from Saudi Arabia and from the national human rights institutions of Egypt, India, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam. Responses from GPDL (Indonesia), FOKAD (Democratic Republic of the Congo); FAIRMED Foundation (Sri Lanka), ENAPAL (Ethiopia), HANDA (China), Fontilles-Nicaragua and The Leprosy Mission-Myanmar. Responses from Japan, the Nippon Foundation and Zen-Ryo-Kyo. Responses from the National Human Rights Commission (India), Lepra Society-India and ILEP (India). 7