A/HRC/RES/44/6 Recalling also that leprosy is curable and that the human rights of persons with leprosy could be better protected by treatment provided in the early stages, which can prevent disability, Deeply concerned that, in various parts of the world, persons affected by leprosy and their family members have faced and continue to face barriers to their participation as equal members of society, including isolation, discrimination and violations and abuses of their human rights, which put them in a situation of vulnerability, and conscious that greater attention is needed to address these challenges, Reaffirming that persons affected by leprosy and their family members, including women and children, should be treated with dignity and are entitled to the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms under customary international law, relevant conventions and national constitutions and laws, Recognizing that persons affected by leprosy and their family members still face multiple forms of prejudice and discrimination stemming from misinformation about and misunderstanding of the disease throughout the world, Recognizing also that specific attention is needed to address all forms of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, Bearing in mind the need to intensify efforts to eliminate all forms of prejudice and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members and to promote policies facilitating their inclusion throughout the world, Stressing the importance of implementing the principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, submitted by the Advisory Committee in 2010,2 to which Governments, relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, other intergovernmental organizations and national human rights institutions were encouraged to give due consideration in Council resolution 15/10 and General Assembly resolution 65/215, Recalling the final report of the Advisory Committee, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 29/5, and the recommendations contained therein, 3 1. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members; 2. Decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members for a period of three years, with the following mandate: (a) To follow up and report on progress made and measures taken by States for the effective implementation of the principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members 2 for the realization of the enjoyment of human rights by persons affected by leprosy and their family members in all regions of the world, and to make recommendations to the Human Rights Council in this regard; (b) To engage in dialogue and consult with States and other relevant stakeholders, including United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, in particular the World Health Organization, other intergovernmental organizations, regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations to identify, exchange and promote good practices relating to the realization of the rights of persons affected by leprosy and their family members, and to their participation as equal members of society with a view to achieving a leprosy-free world; (c) To raise awareness of the rights of persons affected by leprosy and their family members and to combat stigmas, prejudices, discrimination and harmful traditional practices 2 3 2 A/HRC/15/30, annex. A/HRC/35/38.