TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Nippon Foundation, together with Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights, will launch Global Appeal 2014 to End Stigma and Discrimination against People Affected by Leprosy in Jakarta on Monday, January 27, 2014.
Around the world, people affected by leprosy continue to face deep-seated stigma and discrimination that limits their opportunities for education, employment, marriage and other forms of social participation. In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on ”Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members.”
According to Principles and Guidelines accompanying the resolution, “States, working with human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the media, should formulate policies and plans of action to raise awareness throughout society and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons affected by leprosy and their family members.”
This year’s Global Appeal is endorsed by representatives of national human rights institutions from 39 countries. The Foundation hopes their support will help spur awareness-raising activities to eliminate leprosy-related discrimination in different parts of the world.
Global Appeal is an initiative launched in 2006 by Yohei Sasakawa, the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, the Japanese Government Goodwill Ambassador for the Human Rights of People Affected by Leprosy and the Chairman of The Nippon Foundation.
The annual appeal has been endorsed to date by faith leaders, business executives, medical and legal professionals, educators and other influential individuals and organizations. It is issued on or near World Leprosy Day, the last Sunday in January.
(*)
