Renewing the mandate on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
In a joint statement at HRC 55, Antoine Gliksohn, executive director of the Global Albinism Alliance, stressed the importance of renewing the mandate of the Independent Expert in light of the continued attacks on persons with albinism.
In the joint statement at the interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the rights of persons with albinism at HRC 55, Antoine Gliksohn, executive director of the Global Albinism Alliance, stressed the importance of renewing the mandate of the Independent Expert in light of the continued attacks on persons with albinism, documented by organisations such as the Global Albinism Alliance, the Africa Albinism Network, and Standing Voice.
In the context of the renewal of the mandate, the organisations sent a joint letter to the Africa Group leading on the resolution. The letter reiterated the invaluable role the mandate played by shedding light on human rights violations against persons with albinism through groundbreaking research, country visits, and human rights training, as well as on the participation of human rights defenders with albinism to ensure that they are consulted and take part in the decision making, leading to raising visibility and awareness on the continued human rights violations against persons with albinism.
The creation of the mandate has served as a catalyst for the development of an African Union Plan of Action and various national action plans on the African continent. The organisations welcomed these and emphasised that there is much more work to be done and the renewal of the mandate is critical to the success of addressing these needs.
The organisations also welcomed, in the discussions around the resolution, the inclusion of language reflecting the important role played by ‘organisations of persons with albinism and their families’, and the reference to the role of States in collaboration with the World Health Organization, ‘to take effective measures to address the health-related effects of climate change on persons with albinism with a view to realising their right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, particularly regarding the alarming incidence of skin cancer in this population, and to implement the recommendations of the report of the Independent Expert in this regard’.
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