A/HRC/35/38 leprosy and their family members, including implementation of legislative, administrative and other measures to address laws, polices, customs and practices that discriminate against or forcefully segregate persons affected by leprosy and their family members; ensuring that authorities and institutions take steps to eliminate discrimination against persons on the grounds of leprosy; taking measures to ensure the full realization of the rights set out in the different human rights instruments; and consulting with and actively involving persons affected by leprosy and their family members in decision-making processes that concern them. Guideline 2 provides for equality and non-discrimination in relation to legal protection and the law, while guideline 3 provides for protection of the human rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups affected by leprosy. Guideline 4 promotes reunification of family members separated as a result of policies and practices relating to leprosy, while guideline 5 requires States to promote the full inclusion and participation of persons affected by leprosy and their family members in the community, ensure that they are not isolated or segregated from the community, provide social support to facilitate reintegration into the community and ensure their access to housing of their choice, including in leprosariums and hospitals, if they so wish. 17. Guideline 6 reinforces principle 5 and calls upon States to ensure that persons affected by leprosy and their family members enjoy the right to participate in the political process and to facilitate their access thereto, while guideline 7 emphasizes support for employment, including self-employment, the formation of cooperatives and vocational training. Guideline 8 elaborates on principle 7 regarding the right to education, while guideline 9 requires States to remove discriminatory and derogatory language, such as the term “lepers”, from government publications. Guideline 10 encourages States to ensure access for persons affected by leprosy and their family members to public places, public transport, recreational and cultural facilities and places of worship. Guideline 11 requires States to provide persons affected by leprosy access to health care on an equal basis with others, institute early detection programmes and ensure prompt treatment of leprosy, include psychological and social counselling in standard care and ensure access to free medication. Guideline 12 provides for the economic, social and cultural rights of persons affected by leprosy and their family members, such as an adequate standard of living, financial assistance, as necessary, education and vocational training. Guideline 13 focuses on awareness-raising throughout society to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons affected by leprosy through various means and media. Finally, Guideline 14 recommends that States establish a committee to coordinate activities relating to the rights of persons affected by leprosy and their family members and include information on policies and measures taken to end discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members in their reports to the relevant treaty bodies. B. Status of the principles and guidelines 18. The principles and guidelines build upon and essentially restate the core principles of international human rights law. Noted with appreciation by both the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, they constitute the standard to be upheld by States in assuming their responsibility to prohibit all forms of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. 19. The goal of the principles and guidelines is to ensure full respect for and full realization of all human rights of persons affected by leprosy and their family members. This goal is critical for every society in order to reaffirm the common faith enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations “in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small”. The global commitment to human rights cannot be achieved if the rights of any particular group of people, such as persons affected by leprosy and their family members, are not fully respected or protected. Thus, even assuming that the principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members are not legally binding on States, they nonetheless constitute persuasive authority with regard to States’ practices to ensure the right to non-discrimination of persons affected by leprosy and their family members. In general terms, it could be underlined that aspects of the principles and guidelines are binding on States that have ratified human rights treaties with similar obligations. 5