A/HRC/15/30 II. 1. Guidelines General 1.1 States should promote, protect and ensure the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons affected by leprosy and their family members without discrimination on the grounds of leprosy. To this end, States should: (a) Take all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures to modify, repeal or abolish existing laws, regulations, policies, customs and practices that discriminate directly or indirectly against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, or that forcefully or compulsorily segregate and isolate persons on the grounds of leprosy in the context of such discrimination; (b) Ensure that all authorities and institutions take measures to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of leprosy by any person, organization or private enterprise. 1.2 States should take all appropriate measures to achieve for persons affected by leprosy and their family members the full realization of all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international human rights instruments to which they are party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 1.3 In the development and implementation of legislation and policies and in other decision-making processes concerning issues relating to persons affected by leprosy and their family members, States should consult closely with and actively involve persons affected by leprosy and their family members, individually or through their respective local and national organizations. 2. Equality and non-discrimination 2.1 States should recognize that all persons are equal before and under the law and are entitled, without any discrimination, to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law. 2.2 States should prohibit all discrimination on the grounds of a person having or having had leprosy, and should guarantee equal and effective legal protection to persons affected by leprosy and their family members. 2.3 Specific measures which are necessary to achieve de facto equality of persons affected by leprosy and their family members shall not be considered as discrimination. 3. Women, children and other vulnerable groups 3.1 In many societies, leprosy has a significantly adverse impact on women, children and other vulnerable groups. States should therefore pay special attention to the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, children and members of other vulnerable groups who have or have had leprosy, as well as their family members. 3.2 States should promote the full development, advancement and empowerment of women, children and members of other vulnerable groups who have or have had leprosy, as well as their family members. 4. Home and family States should, where possible, support the reunification of families separated in the past as a result of policies and practices relating to persons diagnosed with leprosy. 4