NEWS and NOTES

International Journal of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, Dec 2004

This department furnishes information concerning institutions, organizations, and individuals engaged in work on leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases, and makes note of scientific meetings and other matters of interest.

Notice. Wellesley Bailey Awards for Courage and Achievement. The Wellesley Bailey awards are unique. In June 2005, two remarkable people who have had leprosy and faced significant challenges from the disease, will be presented with the fourth Wellesley Bailey Award. There is no other international award which acknowledges the accomplishments of those who have been affected by leprosy.

Created in 1999 to celebrate the life and work of Mr. Wellesley Bailey, founder of The Leprosy Mission, the Wellesley Bailey awards honour those who have made extraordinary contributions to society through overcoming the social stigma and physical challenges of leprosy.

A former recipient of the awards said "Leprosy is a ruthless thief, which first, turns off all the lights before you notice that there is an intruder. Then in the total blackout it viciously created, it robs you of every single irreplaceable treasure you possess."

The recipients will have been active members in their community for at least five yrs and will be champions for the cause of leprosy through their achievements.

Each Award includes a prize of £1000 and a presentation plaque. The recipients will be invited to travel to Dublin, with a supporter of their choice, to receive the Award at an awards ceremony in the first week of June 2005.

Nominations for the 4th Wellesley Bailey awards. These unique international awards acknowledge the accomplishments of those who have made extraordinary contributions to society despite the challenges of leprosy.

Recipients must have personally experienced leprosy, will have been active members of their community for at least five years and champions for the cause of leprosy.

Each award includes a prize of £1000 and a presentation plaque. The recipient will be invited to travel to Dublin for a special awards ceremony in the first week of June 2005.

Nominations must be submitted on the official form available from Glynis Forbes. The deadline for nominations is 10 January 2005.

Notice. U.N. Sub-Commission on Human Rights Resolves to Study Leprosy and Human Rights.

The following excerpt is from a press release from the Nippon Foundation, dated Aug. 16, 2004, forwarded to the JOURNAL by Dr. P. K. Gopal, President, IDEA International.

August 9, Geneva-Today, at the European Headquarters of the United Nations, the 56th Sub-Commission on Human Rights reached a consensus to take up the question of human rights violations visited upon leprosy patients, cured people and their families.

The sub-commission adopted a formal resolution to study the issue. Under the auspices of this resolution, members of the commission will conduct an investigation and produce a working paper on leprosy and human rights. This paper will then be presented at the 57th meeting of the sub-commission.

There are roughly 500,000 leprosy patients and 20 million former patients around the world. When family members are taken into account, over 100 million people are suffering from the needless discrimination related to leprosy. Leprosy is incorrectly thought by many to be hereditary or a supernatural punishment, and is thus greatly feared. However, with multi-drug therapy, this "incurable disease" has become completely curable. In spite of this fact, individuals affected by the disease must still suffer discrimination that limits their ability to study, marry or find work. Even after death, families often face lasting social discrimination.

The full text of the resolusion follows:

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

Fifty-sixth session

Agenda item 5

PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION

Draft resolution 2004/ Discrimination against leprosy victims and their families

The Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,

Recalling article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which stipulates that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, Recalling also article 2 of the Universal Declaration, which provides that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Recalling further article 5 of the Universal Declaration, which provides that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Concerned that millions of people suffer from discrimination resulting from physical and mental illness or handicap, Concerned in particular that tens of millions of people suffer not only from leprosy as a disease, which is scientifically and medically proven to be curable and manageable, but also from political, legal, economic or social discrimination and isolation as a result of misunderstanding and indifference, and lack of legislative or administrative measures to prohibit such discrimination and to protect and remedy the victims, Requests Mr. Yozo Yokota to prepare, without financial implications, a preliminary working paper on discrimination against leprosy victims and their families, to be submitted to the fifty-seventh session of the SubCommission under the agenda item entitled "Prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities."