Rights expert calls Bangladesh to draft anti-discrimination leprosy laws

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau

UNITED NATIONS, 16th Feb. UN Special Rapporteur on discrimination against persons with leprosy, Alice Cruz on Wednesday called on Bangladesh to draft laws to better protect those affected by leprosy.

“Leprosy is hidden beneath multiple layers of systemic exclusion, structural discrimination, and institutional neglect,” said Alice Cruz, after 8 day visit to Bangladesh.

She noted people from 120 countries are affected by leprosy, known as Hansen’s disease, with more than 200,000 new cases reported worldwide yearly.

WHO reports that Bangladesh has the fifth highest number of leprosy cases in the world. Data on Bangladesh indicates ongoing transmission, late diagnosis, and gaps in the health system.

“Fundamental principles of the right to development, such as equity, self-determination, participation, and justice, are not being met,” Ms. Cruz said.

“Persons affected by leprosy and their families are still not enjoying the benefits of economic growth, nor are they seeing discrimination against them duly redressed.”

She said that the situation of persons affected by leprosy in Bangladesh indicates that the outstanding economic growth is not reaching the entire population.

Ms. Alice urged lawmakers to come up with draft anti-discrimination laws to formally recognize leprosy as a prohibited form of discrimination.

She raised deep concerns, after meeting with persons affected by leprosy, the Government, civil society, and healthcare workers alongside visits to communities in Nilphamari and Bogura.

She cited a high potential number of hidden cases. Equally worrisome are limited access to care, and critically delayed diagnoses, and reports of corruption surrounding access to disability-related benefits and other social protection schemes.

She noted the Government’s commitment to actively engage with the international human rights system to protect the rights of persons affected by the neglected tropical disease, she drew attention to a stark data gap and limited understanding about leprosy among relevant authorities, ongoing transmission and disability among children, and widespread disease-related discrimination and stigmatization.

“While I commend the Prime Minister’s commitment to eliminate leprosy by 2030, I am concerned that the State administration is failing to implement this promise,” Ms. Cruz said. “Adequate budget allocation with clear targets, indicators and benchmarks is essential to turn the Government’s pledges into reality.”

Ms. Cruz will present her report to the Human Rights Council in June.