International Albinism Awareness Day

A UN expert today hailed the collective progress made in pursuing human rights for persons with albinism, since the UN General Assembly officially recognised 13 June as International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) in 2014. Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, made the following statement: “For the past decade, we have made remarkable headway in highlighting the human rights concerns of persons with albinism – a feat that could not be achieved without the valuable partnerships and collaboration forged among persons with albinism and stakeholders who have been important allies in this endeavour. It is apt that this year we celebrate under the theme 10 Years of IAAD: A Decade of Collective Progress. Significant strides have been made in combatting stigma, discrimination and violence experienced by persons with albinism. In the past decade, the inclusion of persons with albinism in human rights discourse and decisio...

“I received disturbing reports of attacks and abductions of persons with albinism, in two different countries, both of which had little or no known attacks against persons with albinism until the recent months,” said the Independent Expert on the rights of persons with albinism , Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond. “One of the victims was a child whose body was reportedly thrown into a river after her eyes and organs had been removed, no doubt for ritual purposes.” Read the full story