The Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative is holding the 3rd Global Forum of People’s Organizations on Hansen’s Disease from July 4 to 6, 2025 in Bali, Indonesia. This Forum takes place just ahead of the 22nd International Leprosy Congress (ILC), also being held in Bali. This provides a unique opportunity for participants to amplify their voices on the global stage of the ILC. Representatives of organizations of persons affected by Hansen’s disease are also expected to speak at the ILC, sharing insights and advocating for change.
The forum brings together persons with lived experience, their representative organizations, and key partners from across the world to discuss shared challenges, exchange experiences, and shape future directions for the movement.
Informed by a global consultation with over 100 respondents from 34 countries, followed by a series of regional online consultations, the Forum will focus on the right to health, human rights, and the ongoing fight against stigma and discrimination—while emphasizing inclusive, people-led approaches and the importance of follow-up action.
This webpage will serve as an information hub for participants and stakeholders. Updates on the agenda and speaker announcements will be shared in the lead-up to the event, while key outcomes and follow-up materials will be published after the Forum concludes.
Forum Information
Date: July 4 to 6, 2025
Place: Bali, Indonesia
Organized by: Sasakawa Health Foundation
Program Overview:
All sessions will be facilitated by Dr. Alice Cruz, Program Advisor for Human Rights Issues, Sasakawa Health Foundation
Day 1 – July 4 (Closed Session for People’s Organizations)
8:30 – 9:00 Welcoming
9:00 – 9:30 Welcome by Dr. Takahiro Nanri, President, Sasakawa Health Foundation and group facilitators
9:30 – 10:45 Group work: Presentation and sharing of both needs assessments by each organization
Note: Organizations will work in mixed groups from different regions. Each group will have one facilitator and one rapporteur selected in advance.
10:45 – 11:00 Break
11:00 – 12:30 Continued group work: Presentation and sharing of both needs assessments by each organization
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 15:30 Group work based on the following guiding questions:
- What needs to change in our own practices and in those of stakeholders (e.g., policymakers) to fulfill the needs and rights of persons with lived experience?
- What laws, policies, strategies, or practices could help address the identified needs?
- What are the main needs of our organizations and what are the areas where we need to build and improve our capacity?
- What measures can be taken to further develop our organizations?
- Facilitators will ask their group members whether they agree to have their respective Drafting Committee member represent the group at the first stakeholder roundtable on Day 3.
15:45 – 16:00 Break
16:00 – 17:00 Presentation of group work
Day 2 – July 5 (Partially Open Session)
◆9:00 – 12:45: Live-streamed session
This session will be accessible to those who have registered for live streaming.
9:00 – 10:00: Formal opening by:
- Mr. Al Kadri, Chairman, PerMaTa Indonesia
- Mr. Brent Morgan, International Director, The Leprosy Mission International
- Mr. Peter Whadupp, CEO, The Leprosy Mission Great Britain
- Mr. Geoff Warne, CEO, ILEP
- Dr. Beatriz Miranda, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members
- Dr. Vivek Lal, Team Leader, Global Leprosy Programme, World Health Organization
- Dr. Takahiro Nanri, President, Sasakawa Health Foundation
10:00 – 10:30:
Presentation on success stories from global coalitions and national-level impact strategies, using a variety of methods including lobbying, strategic litigation, and direct action
- Dr. Neeraj Mistry, Deputy Director, Future Africa Institute, University of Pretoria; Member, Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking
Followed by Q&A
10:30 – 11:00:
Presentation on evidence-based advocacy and high-level lobbying strategies
- Dr. Krishna Man Pradhan and Mr. Mohan Acharya, Nepal Law Society
Followed by Q&A
11:15 – 11:30: Break
11:30 – 12:45:
Presentations by representatives of People’s Organizations and Civil Society Organizations on experiences with resource mobilization and microfinance
- Mr. Wu Yaoqiang and Ms. Sally Qi, HANDA
- Reverend Joshua Sivagnanam, Kaveri Kala Manram / Leprosy People Association – Sri Lanka
- Dr. Shayla Islam, BRAC
Followed by Q&A
12:45 – 14:00: Lunch
◆14:00 – 17:00: Closed Session (In-person only)
For representatives of People’s Organizations only
14:00 – 15:45: Group work: Lessons learned, solutions to problems, and actions required for each of the key outputs
15:45 – 16:00: Break
16:00 – 17:00: Continued group work: Lessons learned, solutions to problems, and actions required for each of the three Key Outputs
Outline of the presentations for the next day
Note: The rapporteurs will exchange notes and a Drafting Committee (appointed in advance) may begin compiling the three outputs.
Day 3 – July 6 (Open Session)
This session will be accessible to those who have registered for live streaming.
9:00 – 10:45: Presentations by each group
10:45 – 11:15: Break
11:15 – 12:00: Presentation of draft three Key Outputs by the Drafting Committee, followed by a plenary discussion facilitated by group facilitators
12:00 – 12:30: Conclusions and next steps (including plans for the next Global Forum)
12:30 – 14:00: Lunch
14:00 – 15:15: Roundtable between representatives of persons with lived experiencee and stakeholders *(ILC, ILA, WHOGLP, UNSR, ILEP, Novartis, GPZL)
Comments from stakeholders on the three Key Outputs
15:15 – 15:30: Q&A with both on-site and live-streaming audiences
15:30 – 15:40: Break
15:40 – 16:40: Continuation of the roundtable: Stakeholders express commitments to implementing the recommendations
16:40 – 16:55: Keynote speech: Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination
16:55 – 17:00: Closure
*ILC – International Leprosy Congress
ILA – International Leprosy Association
WHOGLP – Global Leprosy Programme of the World Health Organization
UNSR – United Nations Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members
ILEP – International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations
Novartis – Novartis Foundation
GPZL – Global Partnership for Zero Leprosy
Goal of the Forum
The goal of the 3rd Global Forum of People’s Organizations is to strengthen the voice, capacity, and collaboration of organizations led by persons with lived experience, while promoting accountability and long-term impact through concrete, actionable outcomes.
The Forum aims to produce three key Outputs:
- Letter of Commitment – A declaration of realistic and context-specific commitments made by participating organizations of persons with lived experience. These may be individual or collective actions, and will include a clear mechanism for follow-up and mutual accountability.
- Letter with Recommendations to Stakeholders – A concise, targeted set of recommendations addressed to specific stakeholders (such as governments, international bodies, donors, and NGOs), with clear responsibilities, benchmarks, and timelines to ensure progress and facilitate follow-up.
- Action Plan for Capacity-Building – A practical roadmap based on identified needs, aimed at strengthening the capacity, development, and empowerment of organizations of persons with lived experience, enabling them to play a stronger role in advocacy, service delivery, and policy influence.
Through these three Key Outputs, the Forum seeks to lay the foundation for sustained, coordinated efforts toward dignity, inclusion, and the realization of the rights of all persons with lived experience.
