A/HRC/24/57 78. Under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, persons with albinism could be considered persons with disabilities. According to article 1 of the Convention, persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. However, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has not dealt with the issue so far. According to the information received, some national legislation recognizes albinism and associated visual impairment as a disability. 71 Additional review of national legislation on disability needs to be conducted. Moreover, consultations with persons with albinism are required on the issue of self-identification. 79. With regard to disabilities, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action urges States and international and regional organizations to address the situation of persons with disabilities who are also subject to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; and to take necessary measures to ensure their full enjoyment of all human rights (para. 57). 80. Similarly, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has not yet examined the issue of discrimination on the basis of colour with respect to persons with albinism. 81. The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, referring to people living with albinism, has noted that: “Regardless of whether one has a lighter or a darker skin compared to the majority population in a country or a community, everyone is entitled to the same rights, dignity and treatment … [and] the same opportunities as anyone else.” On the other hand, the Independent Expert on minority issues has stated that: “People living with albinism do not fall under the internationally accepted definition of minorities … However, their stigma, the lifelong social exclusion and general discrimination they face is a similar experience to those vulnerable racial minorities because of their different skin colour”.72 82. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, while not addressing specifically the situation faced by persons with albinism, recognizes that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, and that victims can suffer multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related grounds (including “other status”). It notes that these practices may be aggravated by inequitable distribution of wealth, marginalization and social exclusion. 83. Organizations working with persons with albinism advocate for considering them as a group requiring special attention, as the discrimination and attacks they are exposed to are mainly rooted in erroneous beliefs and myths that must be addressed.73 70 71 72 73 16 Gambia Albinos and UTSS. Confédération nationale des Albinos de Guinée, Association des Femmes albinos “Espoir”, Association nationale des Albinos du Sénégal, Organisation mauritanienne pour l’appui et l’insertion des Albinos and UTSS. For instance, the amended version of the Persons with Disabilities Act in Kenya recognizes albinism as a disability. Discrimination laws in Australia protect the rights of people with disabilities, including albinism (Albinism Fellowship of Australia submission). In Canada and the United States, persons with albinism are considered “legally blind” and thus as persons with disabilities according to domestic legislation (UTSS submission). Press statement, “Not ghosts”. The list of types of minorities included in the 1992 Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities is not openended. Albinos Sans Frontières and UTSS submissions. According to UNICEF, in order to understand the