Global Appeal Archive
2006-2023
Since its launch in 2006, the annual Global Appeal has been supported by a wide range of influential partners from different fields who have joined the call for an end to the stigma and discrimination that persons affected by leprosy face.
2023
This appeal was endorsed by the organizers and participants of International Symposium at the Vatican on Hansen’s Disease titled “Leave No One Behind.” The symposium was organized by Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative, together with Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, French Raoul Follereau Fondation and Italian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau. They called to recognize that all human beings are brothers and sisters, equal in dignity, and that each of us must play our part in realizing a society in which no one is left behind.
Recording of International Symposium at the Vatican on Hansen’s Disease “Leave No One Behind”
2022
Philanthropic organizations committed to contributing to the public good, addressing social injustice and building a better world endorsed this appeal. Thirty-seven foundations from 13 countries joined the call for an end to the marginalization of persons who have experienced leprosy and their families, and the realization of a just and equitable society in which everyone can live a dignified life enjoying all their basic rights.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
Addresses by Guests
Her Excellency Ms. Damares Alves, Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights, Brazil
Mr. Oleg Ouss, Chairman of the Board, Raoul Follereau Foundation
Ms. Yuliati Gowa, PerMaTa South Sulawesi, People’s Organization of Indonesia
2021
The right to work was the theme of this appeal, which received the backing of the International Trade Union Confederation. Access to employment is a key issue for persons affected by leprosy, and the appeal underlined “the right of every individual seeking work to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect.”
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
Addresses by Guests
Endorsing Organization: Ms. Sharan Burrow, ITUC
Dr. Tedros Adhanom, WHO Director-General
Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Music Performance by Thamires Tannous
2020
For the Olympic/Paralympic year of 2020, the appeal welcomed the endorsement of the International Paralympic Committee. The IPC’s core values of diversity and inclusion, and its commitment to the creation of a just and equitable society, gave particular resonance to the 15th appeal in the series.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2019
This appeal was supported by the International Chamber of Commerce, which pledged its commitment to a truly inclusive society. The world business organization said that everyone deserves a chance to fulfill his or her potential and that “the barriers of stigma and discrimination should not be allowed to limit their opportunities.”
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2018
An estimated 3 to 4 million people are living with some form of disability related to leprosy. Disabled Peoples’ International, the organization that supported this appeal, is open to persons with disabilities of any kind. DPI pledged to work with persons affected by leprosy to raise awareness of the disease and advocate for greater social participation in pursuit of their common goal of social inclusion.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
Event Program and the Video Messages
2017
The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the global organization of national parliaments. Through this appeal, the IPU called on parliaments to promote policies that end stigma and discrimination and to ensure that persons affected by leprosy and their families are fully represented and involved in political discussions that affect them.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2016
This appeal drew on the support of active young people between the ages of 18 and 40 who make up Junior Chamber International, a non-profit with members in over 120 countries. They pledged to use JCI’s reach to condemn discrimination and support activities to ensure that the next generation is properly educated and informed about leprosy.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2015
Nurses form the largest group of health professionals in the world and are committed to alleviating physical and mental suffering and promoting the health of all people, without prejudice. The support of the International Council of Nurses for this appeal to end discrimination against persons affected by leprosy was thus extremely significant.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2014
National human rights organizations from 39 countries supported this appeal. As well as being a disease, leprosy is also an issue of human rights, so human rights organizations are essential partners in the fight to end the discrimination that persons affected by leprosy face.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2013
Backed by the International Bar Association and its member associations, this appeal focused on legal impediments that prevent persons affected by leprosy from living in dignity and enjoying all their human rights. The appeal noted how outdated stereotypes of the disease are perpetuated by laws, customs and regulations that discriminate on the grounds of leprosy, and called for such laws to be abolished.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2012
This appeal, endorsed by members of the World Medical Association, set out basic facts about leprosy and stressed that there are no grounds for isolating a person with the disease. In calling for an end to the discrimination that persons affected by leprosy face, the WMA members noted: “Drugs can cure leprosy, but only greater public awareness can end the discrimination it attracts.”
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2011
For this appeal, the heads of over 100 of the world’s leading universities affirmed the importance of education as a means to challenge stigma, and as a way to empower persons affected by leprosy to overcome the social and economic barriers that society has placed in their way.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2010
This appeal drew on the business community for support, with the heads of top global companies such as Toyota Motor Corp., Virgin Group, Tata Group, Renault and Novartis affixing their signatures. Ensuring that persons affected by leprosy have opportunities for education, training and work is key to building self-reliance, with the signatories supporting the principles of social integration and economic empowerment.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2009
This appeal was signed by 17 representatives of the world’s religious faiths. Religions play an enormous role in shaping people’s beliefs, so to have faith leaders join together in issuing an unequivocal message that persons affected by leprosy have the right to a normal life, and that all of us must be part of the social healing process, was hugely significant.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2008
Launched in the year that marked the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this appeal was signed by Amnesty International, Save the Children Alliance and other internationally recognized organizations with a focus on human dignity and human rights.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2007
Persons affected by leprosy from 13 countries, among them the Philippines, India, the United States and Japan, signed the appeal. Calling for an end to the social injustice they faced, the signatories were people with personal experience of the disease and the discrimination it causes, and their voices carried great weight.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
2006
The first Global Appeal was launched in New Delhi. Among the signatories were past and present world leaders and several Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including the 14th Dalai Lama, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond Tutu. The appeal urged the UN Commission on Human Rights to issue principles and guidelines for governments to follow in eliminating discrimination, and called for people the world over to change their perception of leprosy.
Opening Remarks by Yohei Sasakawa
