Calling on States to do more to address persisting human rights challenges faced by persons with albinism.




The Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, called on States to take robust measures to address persistent human rights challenges faced by persons with albinism, including in the areas of education, health care and employment, where systemic barriers continue to impede the enjoyment of these rights.

“Over the past decade, my predecessor and I have engaged, advocated and reported on a wide range of issues related to albinism,” said Miti-Drummond as she presented a report marking the tenth anniversary of the mandate on albinism at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council.

“With the support of Member States and civil society actors, the mandate has played a central role in mainstreaming the rights of persons with albinism and in contributing to the increased recognition of their rights at the global, regional and national levels,” she said.

The expert noted that significant progress had been made in advancing the human rights of persons with albinism, including albinism-specific legislation, national action plans, the inclusion of sunscreen in national lists of essential medicines, prosecution of attacks on persons with albinism and the framing of such attacks as forms of torture and trafficking, as well as highlighting how discrimination against them is multiple and intersectional on the basis of disability and skin colour, and sometimes age and gender.

“I have proposed key recommendations for Member States and other key actors to support the realisation of the rights of persons with albinism, including the need for continued engagement by States and United Nations entities on albinism issues in Africa and beyond, proactive engagement with the mandate through invitations to country visits, timely submissions to calls for inputs and responses to communications,” Miti-Drummond said.

The Independent Expert also presented country visit reports on Lesotho and the United States undertaken in April and October 2024 respectively.

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