The European Union has voiced support for the conclusion of the UN Special Rapporteur mandate on eliminating discrimination against persons affected by leprosy or Hansen's disease, while stressing the need for continued efforts to combat stigma and discrimination. In a general comment delivered on 7 July 2026 at the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the EU thanked Japan and the core group for leading negotiations on resolution L.5 and welcomed the gradual shift from the term "leprosy" to "Hansen's disease" by removing brackets around the medical term.
The EU commended the core group for reflecting on the mandate's achievements and deciding it was time for it to be concluded, recognising progress while contributing to the Council's broader rationalisation and efficiency efforts. The EU invited other penholders and core groups to consider similar steps. However, the EU emphasised that despite the mandate's conclusion, the persistence of stigma and discrimination requires more effective affirmative action from states, including the worldwide abolition of discriminatory legislation, mainstreaming of Hansen's disease into broader human rights frameworks, and formal inclusion of affected persons in decision-making. The EU called on the Council to adopt the resolution by consensus.
This statement marks the EU's formal position on the resolution, which has no prior coverage in the last 180 days. The EU's support for ending the mandate reflects a trade-off between acknowledging progress and the risk of reduced international attention on a marginalised issue. Stakeholders impacted include persons affected by Hansen's disease and their families, who may benefit from continued state-level action but lose a dedicated UN advocate; EU member states, which gain efficiency in UN processes; and NGOs working on leprosy-related discrimination, who may need to shift advocacy to national and regional frameworks. The resolution's adoption by consensus would signal broad international backing for the mandate's conclusion while maintaining pressure on states to uphold human rights commitments.