Gender equality and human rights are indivisible, foundational and unconditional
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Shobha Shukla (CNS)
Contd from previous issue
Connect the dots: Leprosy, gender justice, human rights, and SDGs
Leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease), once feared as an incurable disease, is now treatable with modern medicine. When diagnosed early and accurately, and treated early with right medicines, it is not disabling too. But leprosy-related stigma and discrimination continues to cause havoc in lives of people affected with leprosy and blocks access to care even today.
But only when we put leprosy under gender lens, we get to see the alarming inter-sectional stigma and discrimination that impacts women with leprosy.
“Women with leprosy face unique and often invisible struggles. At home, they are often unable to express their problems, even to other women. This is not the case for men. In family matters, whether it is making decisions or purchasing essentials, women are frequently excluded. Gender discrimination plays a major role here,” said Maya Ranavare, President of Association of People Affected by Leprosy.
“Women with leprosy receive lower wages than men for the same work, which is a clear example of gender inequality. These issues are compounded by the stigma of leprosy. But perhaps the most serious impact is in the area of healthcare. Women with leprosy often suffer in silence. Social stigma, economic dependence, and a lack of agency prevent them from seeking timely medical help or sharing their experiences. This intersection of gender and disease requires urgent attention. If we want to truly support people affected by leprosy, we must also address the gender-based injustices they face every day,” she added.
“We need to ensure people living with HIV are covered under UHC (under Indian government’s health insurance). Although government of India has done a commendable job in ensuring people living with HIV receive lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy and support at government-run healthcare facilities across the country, there are other healthcare needs too which people face - and often have to pay. Out-of-pocket expenses often become catastrophic costs for people with HIV, especially women who face inter-sectional stigma and discri- mination at all levels,” said Daxa Patel, co-founder and former President of National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) and leader of Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV (GSNP Plus).
Gender inequality and violation of rights exacerbate during conflicts and humanitarian crises
Parwen Hussaini of Afghanistan is at risk of her life along with her lesbian lover Maryam (Maryam is under arrest). Parwen was born in Gazhni province of Afghanistan and identifies as a lesbian and Afghan. She narrowly escaped persecution and arrest by the Taliban on 20th March 2025 and she is now in Iran. Parwen and her lover were engaged to get married when they tried to escape. Her lover (Maryam) is being tortured and imprisoned by the Taliban and in prison for over one and a half months (as on 10 May 2025).
Nemat Sadat, CEO of “Roshaniya” (an advocacy network dedicated to assisting LGBTQI+ Afghans) and one of the first Afghans to have openly come out as gay person and to campaign for rights, gender freedom and liberty, said: “We have a list of over 1,000 LGBTQI+ peoples who still remain in Afghanistan. To this date, we have supported the safe evacuation of 265 people to different countries and we hope that Parwen will also get to a safe place.”
“The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has disem-powered a lot of excluded and marginalised peoples including women, LGBTQI+, people living with HIV, persons with disabilities, sex workers, among others. So, when it comes to gender justice the issue of gender-based violence becomes central. There is physical violence, domestic violence, and sexual harassment and sexual abuse. They are raping women rampantly. Due to the conflict there is also increased risk for the displacement of women and girls in South Sudan (which puts them at greater risk of violence). There is also limited access to justice and support for young women, women with disability, and people with HIV because of their condition,” said Rachel Adau, Executive Director of the Women’s Empowerment Centre South Sudan.
Let us hope that at the upcoming UN intergovernmental High Level Political Forum were UN Sustainable Development Goals for health (SDG3) and gender equality (SDG5) are under review, governments commit to get on track to deliver on all SDG goals and targets. We cannot 'pick and choose' rather deliver on all SDGs.
Contd from previous issue
Connect the dots: Leprosy, gender justice, human rights, and SDGs
Leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease), once feared as an incurable disease, is now treatable with modern medicine. When diagnosed early and accurately, and treated early with right medicines, it is not disabling too. But leprosy-related stigma and discrimination continues to cause havoc in lives of people affected with leprosy and blocks access to care even today.
But only when we put leprosy under gender lens, we get to see the alarming inter-sectional stigma and discrimination that impacts women with leprosy.
“Women with leprosy face unique and often invisible struggles. At home, they are often unable to express their problems, even to other women. This is not the case for men. In family matters, whether it is making decisions or purchasing essentials, women are frequently excluded. Gender discrimination plays a major role here,” said Maya Ranavare, President of Association of People Affected by Leprosy.
“Women with leprosy receive lower wages than men for the same work, which is a clear example of gender inequality. These issues are compounded by the stigma of leprosy. But perhaps the most serious impact is in the area of healthcare. Women with leprosy often suffer in silence. Social stigma, economic dependence, and a lack of agency prevent them from seeking timely medical help or sharing their experiences. This intersection of gender and disease requires urgent attention. If we want to truly support people affected by leprosy, we must also address the gender-based injustices they face every day,” she added.
“We need to ensure people living with HIV are covered under UHC (under Indian government’s health insurance). Although government of India has done a commendable job in ensuring people living with HIV receive lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy and support at government-run healthcare facilities across the country, there are other healthcare needs too which people face - and often have to pay. Out-of-pocket expenses often become catastrophic costs for people with HIV, especially women who face inter-sectional stigma and discri- mination at all levels,” said Daxa Patel, co-founder and former President of National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) and leader of Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV (GSNP Plus).
Gender inequality and violation of rights exacerbate during conflicts and humanitarian crises
Parwen Hussaini of Afghanistan is at risk of her life along with her lesbian lover Maryam (Maryam is under arrest). Parwen was born in Gazhni province of Afghanistan and identifies as a lesbian and Afghan. She narrowly escaped persecution and arrest by the Taliban on 20th March 2025 and she is now in Iran. Parwen and her lover were engaged to get married when they tried to escape. Her lover (Maryam) is being tortured and imprisoned by the Taliban and in prison for over one and a half months (as on 10 May 2025).
Nemat Sadat, CEO of “Roshaniya” (an advocacy network dedicated to assisting LGBTQI+ Afghans) and one of the first Afghans to have openly come out as gay person and to campaign for rights, gender freedom and liberty, said: “We have a list of over 1,000 LGBTQI+ peoples who still remain in Afghanistan. To this date, we have supported the safe evacuation of 265 people to different countries and we hope that Parwen will also get to a safe place.”
“The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has disem-powered a lot of excluded and marginalised peoples including women, LGBTQI+, people living with HIV, persons with disabilities, sex workers, among others. So, when it comes to gender justice the issue of gender-based violence becomes central. There is physical violence, domestic violence, and sexual harassment and sexual abuse. They are raping women rampantly. Due to the conflict there is also increased risk for the displacement of women and girls in South Sudan (which puts them at greater risk of violence). There is also limited access to justice and support for young women, women with disability, and people with HIV because of their condition,” said Rachel Adau, Executive Director of the Women’s Empowerment Centre South Sudan.
Let us hope that at the upcoming UN intergovernmental High Level Political Forum were UN Sustainable Development Goals for health (SDG3) and gender equality (SDG5) are under review, governments commit to get on track to deliver on all SDG goals and targets. We cannot 'pick and choose' rather deliver on all SDGs.