The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted its first-ever resolution formally recognising the link between human rights and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
The landmark move is expected to strengthen global efforts to eliminate the diseases and improve the lives of more than one billion affected people.
This is according to a statement made available to reporters on Tuesday by APO Group on behalf of the Anesvad Foundation.
The statement said the resolution marked the first time the council had adopted a dedicated resolution on NTDs.
It elevates the diseases beyond the health sector, recognising them as issues of dignity, equity, inclusion and justice.
The resolution was led by the Republic of Malawi alongside a core group of African member states comprising Burkina Faso, Kenya, Tanzania, The Gambia and Morocco.
Supporters said the decision represents a significant milestone in the global campaign against NTDs by acknowledging that the diseases are deeply intertwined with human rights and socio-economic inequalities.
According to the statement, neglected tropical diseases are both caused by and contribute to human rights challenges. Poverty, unsafe water, poor sanitation, inadequate housing, discrimination and limited access to healthcare create conditions that allow the diseases to thrive.
NTDs can lead to disability, disfigurement, stigma, exclusion from education and employment, loss of income and preventable deaths — trapping affected individuals and communities in cycles of poverty and marginalisation.
The Human Rights Council said the resolution would help elevate NTDs within global and national policy agendas. It would also strengthen accountability, reinforce the relationship between health and human rights, and mobilise greater political commitment and resources towards disease elimination.
Malawi’s Minister of Health, Mr Madalitso Chidumu Baloyi, described the adoption as a historic victory for millions of people affected by neglected tropical diseases.
“Africa has borne a disproportionate burden of these diseases for generations, and African countries have also been leaders in the fight to eliminate them.
“By formally recognising the links between NTDs and human rights, the Human Rights Council has affirmed that no person should be denied dignity, opportunity, health or inclusion because of a preventable and treatable disease,” he said.
Mr Stuart Halford, Director of Advocacy and Resource Mobilisation at Uniting to Combat NTDs, commended Malawi and other African member states for championing the initiative.
He said recognising NTDs as both a public health and human rights issue would help accelerate global efforts to combat the diseases while improving the lives and rights of millions of vulnerable people.
Mr Juan Gamboa, Chief Executive Officer of the Anesvad Foundation, described the adoption as a significant step towards ensuring that the elimination of neglected tropical diseases is recognised as a fundamental right.
He said sustained political commitment and increased financial investment would be required to translate the resolution into concrete actions capable of ending the diseases within the current generation.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) welcomed the resolution.
Ms Alia El-Yassir, Director of WHO’s Department for Gender, Rights, Equity and Sexual Misconduct Prevention, said the resolution acknowledged that neglected tropical diseases are both a public health and human rights challenge.
She said it provided an opportunity to strengthen rights-based, equity-oriented and people-centred interventions that address poverty, inequality, stigma and barriers to essential health services, particularly for women and girls who are often disproportionately affected.
According to available data, 63 countries have successfully eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease, demonstrating that sustained investment, effective partnerships and political commitment can produce measurable public health gains.
Africa continues to lead global elimination efforts. Malawi, for instance, eliminated trachoma as a public health problem in 2022 after previously eliminating lymphatic filariasis and leprosy, while continuing programmes aimed at eliminating additional NTDs by 2030.
The resolution requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct consultations on the relationship between human rights and NTDs. These consultations are expected to produce recommendations on integrating human rights considerations into national and global responses.
Nigeria remains among countries with a high burden of neglected tropical diseases, including onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections.
Public health experts believe the resolution could strengthen advocacy for increased domestic investment, expanded access to quality healthcare, improved water and sanitation services, and stronger community-based interventions to accelerate progress towards elimination.
