United Nations Human Rights Council
58th Regular Session
ID – IE Albinism
Item 3
Oral Statement of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in the Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on Albinism
Mr. President,
On behalf of the ICJ and the Africa Albinism Network (AAN), a consortium of NGOs promoting the human rights of persons with albinism in Africa, I welcome the tenth-anniversary report of the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism and the mandate holder’s continuing efforts to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism worldwide.
Considerable progress has been made in the last ten years. Advocacy on albinism has made a mark, leading to a decline in attacks and a reduction in prejudice against persons with albinism throughout Africa. Legal and policy frameworks have been strengthened and adopted.
However, egregious human rights violations against persons with albinism persist. In 2024, six African countries reported ritual killings cases, including one in which a two-year-old child with albinism was murdered for her body parts. Climate change’s adverse effects on human health, including deaths from skin cancer, are on the rise, with limited access to sunscreen, and weak healthcare systems. But persons with albinism are more than just carriers of the lifelong condition. We call on States to take adequate measures to end all human rights violations against persons with albinism.
Independent Expert: What concrete measures should States take to ensure health systems respond to the needs of persons with albinism?
Statement delivered by: Bonface Massah, the Executive Director of Africa Albinism Network (AAN), on behalf of ICJ and the AAN
For more information, contact: Sandra EPAL-RATJEN, Sandra.epal@icj.org
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The full ICJ statement during the interactive dialogue is available for download here.
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