A/HRC/35/38 states, MORHAN and members of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) had created partnerships with the Ministry of Justice to not only review individual cases of violation of rights of persons affected by leprosy, but also to ensure that public policies and laws relating to Hansen’s disease were upheld by the Government.24 D. Economic, social and cultural rights 36. Most of the responses indicated that the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by all citizens, including persons affected by leprosy and their family members, was provided for in the respective Constitutions, as well as in policies, guidelines and laws of some countries. However, many NGOs indicated that several core human rights were violated in practice. They cited specific cases of violations of the economic, social and cultural rights of persons affected by leprosy, such as the right to marriage and to found a family; the right to education; the right to work; the right to access public services; the right to adequate health care; and the right to participate in political, social and cultural life owing to the prevalent and institutionalized stigma and discrimination that existed in different sectors of society. 37. With regard to the right to found a family in Nepal, examples were given of two women who were forced to leave their homes and families after being diagnosed with leprosy.25 One respondent from Nepal stated that he was forced to sign a divorce paper within four months of his marriage.26 Several responses from other NGOs indicated that marriage and family break-ups occurred when either spouse, but particularly the woman, was diagnosed with leprosy.27 38. Discrimination at school, particularly against children whose parents have had leprosy was also cited as a problem by several NGOs. 28 In China, for example, a primary school had refused to accept 30 children, although they had provided medical certificates. The parents of some of those children were also against their enrolment because their own parents or grandparents had been affected by leprosy, but mainly because of fear of discrimination.29 In India, a nursing student was recently discriminated against at college when she showed early symptoms of leprosy. 30 Some NGOs cited dismissal of workers on the grounds of having had leprosy. 31 39. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, persons affected by leprosy did not have the right to marry because it was believed that leprosy was transmissible and a curse from God. Moreover, persons affected by leprosy were not allowed to bathe in the same water as other healthy people and were considered an economic burden on their family because leprosy was considered to be an incurable disease. 32 40. In India, persons affected by leprosy were still discriminated against in the health sector. Two cases were cited of hospitals in Delhi denying admission to persons affected by leprosy, which had led to the death of the patient in one case. 33 A case of rejection and mistreatment by a hospital of a person affected by leprosy was also mentioned in Indonesia.34 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Responses from Netherlands Leprosy Relief-Brazil and MORHAN (Brazil). Response from The Leprosy Mission-Nepal. Response from Amar B. Timalsina (IDEA-Nepal). Responses from IDEA-India, FAIRMED Foundation (Sri Lanka) and The Leprosy Mission-Niger. Responses from The Leprosy Mission-Nepal, MORHAN (Brazil), The Leprosy Mission-Niger, GPDL (Indonesia), IDEA-India, HANDA (China) and CORSOHANSEN (Colombia). Response from HANDA (China). Response from IDEA-India. Responses from Netherlands Leprosy Relief-Brazil, FAIRMED Foundation (Sri Lanka), The Leprosy Mission-Nepal, IDEA-Nepal and The Leprosy Mission-Niger. Response from FOKAD (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Response from The Leprosy Mission Trust (India). Response from GPDL (Indonesia). 9