PictureEmmanuel Oboh (seated, center) with Kofi Nyarko, IDEA Representative Ghana (standing).
"The elders and the chief of my village decided on my arrival that I can work with them in the chief's house as one of the elders.  With this the chief and his elders and the whole community gave me the power of the clan of the community, and asked me to sit in the middle of the two men who also have the power."
--Emmanuel Oboh, who had lived in a segregated community for 39 years, and returned home through IDEA Ghana's Restoration of Family Ties program
IDEA advocates for the human rights and inclusion of people at all levels and in all ways within society, engaging traditional leaders, religious leaders, civil society, national governments and international bodies. Example of our grass roots advocacy efforts led by local leaders include the following.

Angola: obtaining identity cards necessary to receive government support

Nigeria: safeguarding voting rights; preventing divorce on the grounds of leprosy; ensuring participation in the hajj
​
Ghana: promoting inclusion through reuniting people long segregated from their families and communities 
​​China: facilitating obtaining passports for people to travel and present the perspective of individuals at international meetings 

​Japan: honoring individuals' legacy through publication of works of art 

​International Human Rights: IDEA was instrumental in the development of the United Nations Guidelines for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy and Their Family Members, which were adopted by the General Assembly in 2010.  Throughout the process, IDEA sought input from individuals around the world, and constantly monitored the development of the Guidelines to ensure that all aspects of human rights were included.