Discriminatory Law Repealed 29 Jul 24

Brent Morgan - International Director of Leprosy Mission International. 

On 16 July 2024, the President of Malta signed a bill to repeal a law in Malta that discriminates on the grounds of leprosy.

After months of positive work between The Leprosy Mission and the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector in Malta, we are really pleased to now see this legislation in the history books. The Government of Malta recognised the importance and significance of repealing this outdated legislation and as such they are an example for other countries who retain such laws on their statute books. Laws like this often remain on statute books from generations gone by, but their continued existence institutionalises and normalises discrimination on the basis of leprosy.

Every law that discriminates against a person because of leprosy is a law that dehumanises; every one of these laws that is repealed constitutes a victory for persons affected by leprosy and all those who are allied to their cause.