Statement by the Press Secretary/ Director-General for Press and Public Relations,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan,
on the Adoption of the Resolution on Elimination of Discrimination against Persons Affected
by Leprosy and their Family Members
at the Third Committee of the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

November 17,2010

On November 16 (local time), the resolution on elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, submitted by Japan, was unanimously adopted in the Third Committee of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly (New York). This was the first time the said resolution was adopted in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.

This resolution aims to eliminate prejudice and discrimination stemming from misinformation about and misunderstanding of the disease, by encouraging governments and other actors to give due consideration to the Principles and Guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. It holds considerable significance as it greatly contributes to the elimination of discrimination against those affected by leprosy throughout the world.

Japan highly values the adoption of the resolution, and will continue making proactive efforts toward the elimination of leprocy-related discrimination.

[Background on the Resolution on Elimination of Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy and their Family Members]

(1)The resolution, of which Japan was the main sponsor, focuses principally on encouraging governments and other actors to give due consideration to the said Principles and Guidelines in the formulation and implementation of their policies and measures for persons affected by leprosy and their family members.

(2)While a resolution on elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members has been adopted annually for the past three years by the Human Rights Council (Geneva), this marks the first time the said resolution was adopted in the Third Committee.

(3)The above-mentioned Principles and Guidelines (P&G) enumerate the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons affected by leprosy and their family members (principles) and then provide concrete guidance to governments for securing these rights and freedoms through their policies (guidelines). The P&G were formulated and adopted in August by the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (a subsidiary body of the Council), with Committee member Mr. Shigeki Sakamoto, Professor of International Law, Graduate School of Law at Kobe University, leading the drafting process.

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