Italian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO)

Contact

General

Project Support

Alliances & Links

Resources & Training

A Patron Saint for Human Rights
CANONIZATION OF FATHER DAMIEN
IDEA, ILEP & AIFO RESOLUTION & OTHER DOCUMENTS

Events Programme

Fr Damien

Leprosy

Resolution Documents

General

Fr Damien's canonization is a religious and spiritual event. In AIFO we are more concerned about the legacy of Fr Damien and his significance in today's world. Fr Damien fought for dignity of persons affected with leprosy, a champion of human rights against discrimination and stigma. Congregation of Fr Damien, Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, is organising many activities and events in this occasion. AIFO with support from different international networks and partner organisations from all over the world, come together to support the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary congregation on this joyful occasion to celebrate the canonization of Fr Damien and to raise their voices for human rights and for end of discriminations.

The banner used in these pages showing persons from different parts of the world shows persons affected with leprosy, who have come out to raise their voices and to ask for their right to dignity and equality like all human beings.

• Read and sign the Fr Damien Resolution of human rights - Among the 14 million persons who have been treated for leprosy over the last decades, many persons continue to face stigma and discrimination even if they are perfectly cured. This resolution advocating for human rights is jointly proposed by IDEA (international organisation representing persons affected with leprosy), ILEP (International federation of anti-leprosy organisations) and AIFO. Read the resolution and sign it.

• Message from Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, World Health Organisation (WHO) Ambassador for Leprosy on the occasion of canonization of Fr Damien.

• Global appeal 2009 to end stigma and discrimination against people affected with leprosy  signed by eminent religious leaders like Cardinal Lozano Barragan, Archbishop Istrinsky Arseniy, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Reverend Dr Samuel Kobia, Rabbi Yona Metzger, Sant Morarji Bapuji, Priestess Beatriz Schulthess, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mr. Ammar A. L. Hakim, Mr. K. H. Sahal Mahfud and others. This appeal was issued on the occasion of the World Leprosy Day in January 2009.

• Talking about leprosy: Words like "leper" are seen as offensive as they perpetuate the negative image of persons affected with leprosy and against the dignity of persons. You can look at the IDEA "Guidelines for journalists" about use of appropriate language to talk about leprosy.

•  One has to be mad to come here - A Saint not like the others, Jos Hilger