A/HRC/41/47 children of persons affected by leprosy who were forcibly separated from their parents in the latter. 80. The majority of the responses reported the absence of discriminatory laws in place, which also reflects the fact that most Government’s responses came from health programmes that are seldom acquainted with such legal frames. Notwithstanding, reference was made to the maintenance in some countries of obsolete laws (with a particular emphasis on the more than 100 discriminatory laws in place in India) that severely constrain the rights of persons affected by leprosy, sustaining stigmatization and impairing their access to justice. Some responses mentioned recent progress in abolishing a number – albeit small – of the overall discriminatory laws in place worldwide, in particular in Bangladesh and India. 81. By the same token, the majority of the responses pointed to the absence of a specific plan of action for amending or abolishing discriminatory laws, norms and practices against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. Some countries, such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay and the Philippines, were referred to as undertaking efforts to eliminate general discrimination against persons living in vulnerable conditions. Examples go from general actions (such as anti-discriminatory laws, creation of institutional bodies and national plans dedicated to anti-discrimination policies) to leprosyspecific ones (educational materials and campaigns). 2. Challenges in enforcing substantive equality 82. When asked to describe the steps taken by States to ensure autonomous and comprehensive access to the highest attainable standard of health, the majority of the responses mentioned recognition in the national constitution of the aforementioned right. Specific measures adopted in relation to the treatment of leprosy (such as delivering of multidrug therapy, monitoring systems, strategies for ensuring timely diagnosis, awarenessraising activities and implementation of the WHO technical standards) are reported from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Guatemala, Japan, Montenegro, Paraguay, Peru and the Philippines. 83. Responses from civil society organizations allow for identifying the following barriers in the access to the highest attainable standard of health: (a) lack of complementary health services after bacteriological cure; (b) lack of personal income among persons affected by leprosy; (c) lack of health workers, including health workers properly trained in leprosy and leprosy-related health complications; (d) lack of a consistent supply of multidrug therapy in peripheral health settings; and (e) lack of health education-awareness strategies addressing how to identify the signs and symptoms of leprosy, which can facilitate early diagnosis. 84. With regard to the fulfilment of the right to education, the majority of the responses from States referred to general provisions on the right to education and on the principles of equality and non-discrimination in national constitutions. General laws for ensuring the right to education to children in general, and to children with disabilities in particular, were also mentioned. There was no mention of specific measures for ensuring access to education to persons and children affected by leprosy, as well as to provide the former with training opportunities, skills development, accessibility and reasonable accommodation. 85. When asked about the access of persons affected by leprosy to the right to dignified work and economic independence, civil society organization identified the following barriers: unemployment; underemployment; unreliable casual labour; job insecurity; lack of access to job opportunities; unequal pay; and insufficiency of the pensions provided by some States. Some examples of the steps taken by States to overcome the aforementioned barriers were also provided, as follows: training opportunities; disability laws that determine a percentage of jobs reserved for persons with disabilities in India; and lifelong pensions, provided by law 11.520, to persons affected by leprosy who were forcibly segregated in Brazil. 86. When asked to describe the steps taken by States to ensure civil rights with respect to family life, marriage, community and public life, as well as participation in decisionmaking processes that impact the lives of persons affected and their family members, a 15