A/HRC/35/38 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 4 May 2017 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-fifth session 6-23 June 2017 Agenda items 3 and 5 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Human rights bodies and mechanisms Study on the implementation of the principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members Report of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 29/5, the Human Rights Council requested the Advisory Committee to undertake a study to review the implementation of the principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, together with the obstacles thereto, and to submit a report to it at its thirty-fifth session containing practical suggestions for the wider dissemination and more effective implementation of the principles and guidelines in order to eliminate discrimination and stigma associated with leprosy and to promote, protect and respect the human rights of those affected by leprosy and their family members. The Council encouraged the Advisory Committee, when elaborating the report, to take into account the views of Member States, as appropriate, relevant international and regional organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), relevant special procedures, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as the work done on the issue by relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes within their respective mandates. 2. Throughout history, leprosy has been one of the most feared and misunderstood diseases. One of the major reasons for the stigma and discrimination directed against persons affected by leprosy and their family members is the deep-rooted misconception, both in the past and today, of leprosy, despite it being one of the least contagious human transmissible diseases. In the past, the lack of scientific knowledge of the causative organism of the disease, its mode of transmission and lack of effective remedy contributed to the stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. Many countries pursued policies that isolated persons affected by leprosy, such as quarantine, forced hospitalization and the establishment of leprosariums, which were maintained even when it was scientifically and medically proven that the disease was completely curable and not easily transmissible, thereby reinforcing stigma and GE.17-07193(E) 