Lepra has zero tolerance towards slavery and human trafficking. We encourage, and expect, all those we deal with to comply with our values.
Slavery and human trafficking is a heinous crime that robs people of their freedom, dignity and safety and has no place in any modern society. We all have a responsibility to be alert to the risks, however small, in our work and across the partner organisations, we engage with. Lepra has a comprehensive suite of safeguarding policies and procedures, which support both staff and management in reporting and investigating any concerns raised.
As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding, we regularly review good practice, new information and our internal policies and procedures to ensure that we remain vigilant to new risks.
As an organisation built on improving vulnerable people’s lives, we are committed to ensuring that neither modern slavery nor human trafficking has a place in any part of our work. We have made a life-long commitment to act ethically and with integrity in all our relationships and to implement and enforce effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking do not occur under the auspices of Lepra.
We build long standing relationships with partner organisations across the countries in which we work including suppliers, government officials, medical and other professionals, staff and volunteers. We make clear our expectations in respect of our required standards of ethical behaviour without exception.
Where our work takes place outside the UK; in India and Bangladesh, the organisations and individuals we work with applying and follow the same rigorous safeguarding standards as Lepra. This includes having robust systems in place to ensure the prompt reporting of concerns and the protection of ‘whistle blowers’, particularly in our overseas work. We are cognizant that there may be an increased risk of modern slavery and human trafficking as vulnerable people may be more likely to seek a better life.
Lepra is a UK-based international charity working to beat leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases (NTD’s), which affect some of the most vulnerable people in the world. We work directly with communities in Bangladesh, India and Zimbabwe to find, diagnose and rehabilitate people affected by leprosy. Through raising awareness, pushing for early detection and reducing stigma we support people so they can transform their lives.
