From 2 to 9 July 2025, PerMaTa–YDTI participated in a series of international leprosy meetings in Bali:
2–3 July – ILEP Advisory Panel Meeting.
Al Kadri attended as a panel member, while Rahma, Arfah, and Nuni were invited to introduce PerMaTa to this high-level group of persons affected by leprosy. Kerstin acted as interpreter.
4–6 July – Global Forum, organised by Sasakawa Health Foundation (SHF)
Over 100 persons affected by leprosy from across the globe gathered to share experiences, strengthen solidarity, and develop joint advocacy strategies. With the support of Alice Cruz from SHF, participants drafted three key documents: a Letter of Commitment, a Letter of Recommendations, and an Action Plan to guide future advocacy work.
7–9 July – International Leprosy Congress (ILC)
More than 1,000 participants from diverse fields came together to exchange knowledge, discuss current challenges, and explore solutions to end leprosy.
PerMaTa–YDTI was proud to bring 20 young team members to these events, thanks to the generous support of ILEP, SHF, Misereor, Liesbeth Mieras, and Yuta Takashima.
Reflections from Our Young Team
On the Global Forum
“The Global Forum was a deeply meaningful event for us. It gave people affected by leprosy in Indonesia a platform to share our challenges and learn from others. We realised that in some countries, stigma and discrimination are even more severe than in Indonesia. Meeting people affected by leprosy from all over the world allowed us to exchange experiences, give feedback, and find solutions. Together, we agreed on concrete steps and plans to better advocate for our rights with our governments.”
On the International Leprosy Congress
“The ILC is crucial for expanding knowledge—especially on managing leprosy reactions. Capacity in this area is declining, leading to more disabilities due to delayed treatment, especially among MB-type cases. Stigma and discrimination persist in society and even within families, often leading to self-stigma, where individuals withdraw from social life.”
Challenges Faced
The main challenge was the language barrier. While interpreters were available at the Global Forum, this was regarded to costly by the organizers of the ILC.
Additional Meetings and Activities
Alongside the three main events, PerMaTa–YDTI was invited to several smaller, important gatherings:
Dinner with members of the ILEP Technical Working Group and other key stakeholders to foster dialogue.
Meeting with the Minister of Health of Indonesia and other senior officials (attended by Al Kadri).
Working group on leprosy reactions led by Dr Rao Pemmaraju.
Dinner with a former Miss Supranational Indonesia.
Meeting with Indonesian stakeholders (NLR, ILEP).
Presentation of the SHF Young Scholar Program to representatives from other countries.
We returned home motivated and inspired to continue—and strengthen—our work to defend the rights of people affected by leprosy and to work towards ending both the disease and the suffering it causes.
