The UN Special Rapporteur on discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, Alice Cruz, will conduct an official visit to Bangladesh from 7 to 15 February 2023.
“The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, at its most recent review on Bangladesh made several recommendations about leprosy-related discrimination,” the expert said. “I will explore how Bangladesh endeavors to eliminate discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members,” she said.
Cruz will assess issues of structural and interpersonal discrimination on grounds of leprosy, anti-discriminatory policies, strategies for stigma reduction, and enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and disability rights by persons affected by leprosy.
The expert will meet government representatives, UN agencies, civil society organizations, persons affected, their family members, and their representative organizations. She will visit communities outside Dhaka, including the Nilphamari and Bogura regions.
At the end of her visit, Cruz will share her preliminary observations and recommendations at a press conference on Wednesday 15 February, at 15:00 (GMT+6), at The Westin Dhaka (address: Main Gulshan Avenue, CWN (B) Road 45, Plot 1, Gulshan 2, Dhaka). Access is strictly limited to journalists.
The Special Rapporteur will present a full report on her visit, including findings and recommendations, to the Human Rights Council in June 2023.