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UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond on Friday called for coordinated global action against colour-based discrimination, warning that prejudice linked to skin colour continues to restrict persons with albinism from accessing healthcare, education, employment and public life and, in its most extreme forms, exposes them to mutilation and killing.
Presenting her report A/81/128, “The psychosocial impact of colour-based discrimination on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism,” to the UN General Assembly, Miti-Drummond highlighted the less visible psychological consequences of persistent discrimination. The report links repeated stereotyping, social exclusion and micro- and macro-aggressions to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, self-isolation, suicidal ideation and racial trauma. The report also found that the effects frequently extend to parents and other family members responsible for protecting relatives from discrimination and violence.
The UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) has noted that persons with albinism remain susceptible to organ trafficking and murder due to the lucrative value of the black market. Miti-Drummond identified myths portraying persons with albinism as supernatural or attributing monetary or magical value to their body parts as drivers of ritual attacks. Her report cites research estimating that approximately 700 persons with albinism across 30 African countries had been killed or mutilated in witchcraft-related incidents over a 10-year period. Bullying, derogatory naming and exclusion from schools and workplaces remain substantially more common manifestations.
International law expressly prohibits discrimination based on colour. Article 1 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) defines racial discrimination to include distinctions or restrictions based on “race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin.” UN human-rights bodies have also treated albinism within the disability-rights framework, bringing protections under Article 5 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which guarantees equality and protection against discrimination.
The UN’s institutional response has developed over more than a decade. The Human Rights Council first addressed attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism in 2013 and established the Independent Expert mandate in 2015. The General Assembly separately adopted Resolution 69/170 in December 2014, designating June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day beginning in 2015 to combat stigma and improve understanding of the condition.
Miti-Drummond’s report notes specific legislation or policies in countries including Brazil, Guinea and Panama, alongside national action plans in Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Tanzania told the General Assembly dialogue that reported killings of persons with albinism declined from 41 between 2006 and 2016 to two between 2017 and 2026 following awareness and protection measures. She called for greater involvement of organizations representing persons with albinism in designing policies and for stronger research and data collection to measure discrimination that frequently remains absent from national statistics.
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Presenting her report A/81/128, “The psychosocial impact of colour-based discrimination on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism,” to the UN General Assembly, Miti-Drummond highlighted the less visible psychological consequences of persistent discrimination. The report links repeated stereotyping, social exclusion and micro- and macro-aggressions to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, self-isolation, suicidal ideation and racial trauma. The report also found that the effects frequently extend to parents and other family members responsible for protecting relatives from discrimination and violence.
The UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) has noted that persons with albinism remain susceptible to organ trafficking and murder due to the lucrative value of the black market. Miti-Drummond identified myths portraying persons with albinism as supernatural or attributing monetary or magical value to their body parts as drivers of ritual attacks. Her report cites research estimating that approximately 700 persons with albinism across 30 African countries had been killed or mutilated in witchcraft-related incidents over a 10-year period. Bullying, derogatory naming and exclusion from schools and workplaces remain substantially more common manifestations.
International law expressly prohibits discrimination based on colour. Article 1 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) defines racial discrimination to include distinctions or restrictions based on “race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin.” UN human-rights bodies have also treated albinism within the disability-rights framework, bringing protections under Article 5 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which guarantees equality and protection against discrimination.
The UN’s institutional response has developed over more than a decade. The Human Rights Council first addressed attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism in 2013 and established the Independent Expert mandate in 2015. The General Assembly separately adopted Resolution 69/170 in December 2014, designating June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day beginning in 2015 to combat stigma and improve understanding of the condition.
Miti-Drummond’s report notes specific legislation or policies in countries including Brazil, Guinea and Panama, alongside national action plans in Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Tanzania told the General Assembly dialogue that reported killings of persons with albinism declined from 41 between 2006 and 2016 to two between 2017 and 2026 following awareness and protection measures. She called for greater involvement of organizations representing persons with albinism in designing policies and for stronger research and data collection to measure discrimination that frequently remains absent from national statistics.
The post Stronger global protections needed for persons with albinism facing colour-based discrimination, UN expert says appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.