A/HRC/10/62 page 13 (h) It was reported that, although Kenya had largely been able to reduce the incidence of leprosy, stigma and sociocultural prejudices and discrimination still persisted. People affected by leprosy were expected to stay in their homes and avoid attending public and social functions such as meetings, markets, churches and schools. People would avoid trade relations with those affected by the disease. It was also reported that the Government programme and plan were based on the belief that leprosy was highly infectious, hence leprosy patients were isolated in public health institutions. Additionally, leprosy and tuberculosis had been included in one programme, which had reduced attention to leprosy, as resources were allocated in favour of tuberculosis. Moreover, the general public and people affected by leprosy were unaware of the programme and services available. Many of those affected by leprosy in remote rural areas, where communication and transport infrastructure were still poor, were usually unable to have access to services. With regard to cultural rights, some testimonies from Kenya indicated that, in tribal clans, people affected by leprosy are stigmatized and discriminated against. The disease was equated with witchcraft, and people affected by it were thought to be paying for their sins. In some clans, isolation in life followed them to their grave. It was reported that they were not buried within the homestead like other members of the family, but rather in shallow graves in the bushes. Other tribes did not mourn the death of a person affected by leprosy. It was also noted that while the Government land policy did not discriminate against people affected by leprosy in the tenure system, this important resource was administered through communal and tribal inheritance systems, which in most cases discriminated against these individuals. In communities where people affected by leprosy were excommunicated, their land was taken over by their relatives. This forced people affected by leprosy to live in poverty; (i) Testimonies reported that, in Mali and Mozambique, isolation and fear continued, including against elderly people affected by leprosy. Persons affected by leprosy faced discrimination in the health system and were unable to work or sell their products; (j) Testimonies about remote areas of Nepal mentioned that people affected by leprosy were not cared for by their families or society; most did not have their human rights, such as those to food, clothing and shelter, met. As a result of social stigma and discrimination, people with leprosy hid their disease. Difficulties faced by persons affected with leprosy in Nepal included the denial of access to religious services, social and community functions and family property. Women affected by leprosy faced further stigma and multiple forms of discrimination. Legislation in Nepal had not yet been modified in relation to non-discrimination. The eleventh edition of the law code of the land (Muluki Ain) 2058 B.S. stated that if a person was affected by leprosy, he or she must be transferred to where the Central District Officer would refer them. In this case, they would lose their family and all their human rights. The same code permitted divorce on the grounds that the spouse had leprosy. The discrimination doubled in the case of female spouses. As leprosy had been categorized as a highly contagious disease, interaction with people affected by leprosy in public places was forbidden. On the basis of this law, those affected by leprosy were still discriminated against and prevented from integrating into their community; (k) In the Niger, apart from the three specialized centres, people affected by leprosy faced rejection from medical staff, particularly because of their ulcers and other forms of leprosy-related complications. Because of stigma, discrimination and rejection, people affected by leprosy had left their homes to be treated at leprosy centres and had formed communities in different regions of the country. In Maradi, Zinder and Niamey, people affected by leprosy had