Alice Cruz

Program Advisor- Human Rights, Sasakawa Health Foundation

Dr. Cruz serves as Program Advisor on Human Rights Issues for Sasakawa Health Foundation (SHF), an organization that promotes science-based and internationally-coordinated solutions in order to reliably and sustainably ease the lives of persons affected by leprosy.

Dr. Cruz earned degrees in anthropology and sociology and conducted her postdoctoral research on health and human rights. In addition to the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of leprosy, her ongoing interest in human rights includes women’s rights, children’s rights, legal and policy change, legal pluralism, interculturality, grassroots movements, collective rights, evidence-informed advocacy, and emancipatory research.

Before joining SHF, Dr. Cruz served for six years as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. She has published many papers on related topics, ranging from legal policies to public health to using the correct words to bring discrimination to an end.