A/HRC/35/38 (b) Repealing discriminatory laws 62. States should take appropriate measures to repeal discriminatory laws and to formulate and implement affirmative policies and laws that ensure the protection of the human rights and dignity of persons affected by leprosy and their family members in accordance with the principles and guidelines. Discriminatory policies and laws have reinforced the prevailing discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members in all spheres of social life, in particular in the areas of education, employment and marriage. (c) Promoting social integration and rehabilitation 63. Concerted efforts should be made to reintegrate and rehabilitate persons affected by leprosy and their family members through the promotion of programmes for those living in isolation. In that respect, support for the rehabilitation of persons affected by leprosy and their family members and provision of education for children of persons affected by leprosy was emphasized. (d) Using appropriate and dignified language 64. The age-old misconceptions about leprosy have been reinforced by the ongoing use of inappropriate and often denigrating language to refer to persons affected by leprosy and their family members in both leprosy-endemic and non-endemic countries. The use of the term “leper” and its equivalent in other languages contributes to the ongoing discrimination faced by persons affected by leprosy and their family members. States and social groups, including the media, should use appropriate terminology when referring to the disease and persons affected by it so as to highlight the human dignity of and foster respect for persons affected by leprosy and their family members. For example, persons affected by leprosy or persons affected by Hansen’s disease were considered as more appropriate expressions. (e) Empowering persons affected by leprosy and their family members 65. One cross-cutting priority that was highlighted was that persons affected by leprosy and their family members should be considered as primary stakeholders in combating the disease and the stigma and discrimination they are faced with, and should be involved in the formulation and implementation of policies and other measures taken by States, which directly or indirectly affected their lives. That would be a crucial step towards recognizing their fundamental human rights and affirming their dignity as well as eliminating the persisting stigma and discrimination, in accordance with the principles and guidelines. 2. At the international level 66. Most of the responses received highlighted the lack of a specific mechanism at the international level to follow up and monitor the implementation of the principles and guidelines by States and other concerned stakeholders. It was suggested that an appropriate body be established within the existing international human rights system to follow up and monitoring the implementation of the principles and guidelines by States. The appropriate mechanism for following up and monitoring the implementation of the principles and guidelines should be under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which had initiated and adopted the principles and guidelines, leading to their adoption by the General Assembly in 2010. IV. Conclusion and recommendations 67. The principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, which were adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 65/215 in December 2010 upon the recommendation of the Human Rights Council, have constituted a milestone document aimed at affirming the human dignity and rights of persons affected by leprosy and their family members. However, although some States have taken steps towards their implementation, much still remains to be done by both States and other relevant stakeholders to ensure their full implementation and to eliminate the discrimination, stigma and ostracization faced by persons affected by leprosy and 14