Who We Are
Thirty years ago in 1994, in Petropolis, Brazil, 50 individuals from six countries gathered to form IDEA, The International Association for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement. These individuals recognized the need to create an international organization to provide a global forum, to bring together individuals who have experienced Hansen’s disease/leprosy.
IDEA was founded on the fundamental principal that people who have experienced Hansen’s disease/leprosy need to be recognized as an integral part of all approaches to the disease, from clinical, research and regulatory, to the economic and psycho-social impact on individuals and families. Additionally, IDEA was created as an organization inclusive of different voices from different countries with different expertise, encompassing individuals newly diagnosed, as well as those forcibly separated from their families and communities prior to a cure. The organization was established to promote connections among organizations and individuals, both those who had experienced the disease and those who had not, with its leaders composed primarily of people who had had Hansen’s disease/leprosy.
Mission
We create a network across the world, of persons who have experienced a neglected tropical disease and their family members, to empower each other, to ensure human rights and to promote inclusion.
Vision
A world where the inherent dignity of all human beings is respected, where no one is left behind due to disease or stigma, and where communities foster inclusion, equality, and the full participation of every individual.
Values
IDEA’s values are inclusion, respect, dignity, dialogue, and justice. These principles shape how we engage with communities, support those affected by neglected tropical diseases, and advocate for human rights and equitable participation around the world.
