A/HRC/43/42/Add.1 Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Albinism, of 2013, was a key achievement. The Ekurhuleni Declaration was the product of the first national conference on albinism, through which the Government brought together over 250 delegates with albinism, including 90 children from all nine provinces, to focus on the elimination of discrimination against persons with albinism. The Ekurhuleni Declaration consists of 40 articles which call for equality for persons with albinism, children’s rights in education, and the correction of erroneous beliefs, myths and superstitions. It reiterates the standards of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and of national laws protecting persons with disabilities. It calls for self-representation, positive language, reducing the costs of living for persons with albinism, improving access to health care, providing reasonable accommodation such as adaptive devices, and strengthening the protection of persons with albinism against killings and attacks. The conference participants included government representatives, members of civil society organizations representing persons with albinism, academics, artists and poets, among others. The Ekurhuleni Declaration prompted muchneeded dialogue and awareness in the country and laid the groundwork for subsequent government and civil society engagement on the issue. This included a round table on albinism in 2018, and support for programmatic initiatives on albinism at the provincial level, although many of these have been ad hoc. 26. The departments taking the lead on initiatives on albinism are the Department for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Social Development. They work with other crucial agencies including the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the South African Police Service, the vulnerable groups unit at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, and others overseeing health, education, sports, the arts and culture. The Independent Expert noted that the close collaboration between the Department of Social Development, the Department for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and civil society organizations working for the human rights of persons with albinism, particularly the Albinism Society of South Africa, had a positive impact on the awareness at the national level of issues related to persons with albinism. However, she notes that the interdepartmental work on issues related to disabilities and albinism needs to be coordinated in a consistent manner, with clear focal points who can ensure the integration and sustainability of engagement on issues related to persons with albinism. 27. The Government’s designation of September as Albinism Awareness Month is also positive. Additionally, the national commemoration of International Albinism Awareness Day, on June 13, and various undertakings to highlight albinism through sports, arts and culture, are commendable, as these have been instrumental in educating and raising public awareness about albinism. 28. Additionally, numerous awareness-raising events have been held, including through public funding initiatives of the Albinism Society of South Africa. Albinism awareness has been supported through the arts and culture, such as the play Mama, I Want To Be the Black That You Are, mentorship programmes, and soap operas with characters with albinism on State-owned television, among other things. Representation at government round tables has also been accorded to individuals with albinism, including models, actors and other public figures. 29. A bill on preventing and combating hate crimes and hate speech is currently before Parliament, and specifically criminalizes hate speech against persons with albinism. The incorporation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into national legislation is also promising. 30. In terms of violence and attacks, prevention measures have been championed by the South African Police Service, associations of traditional healers, religious leaders, and a dynamic array of civil society organizations representing persons with albinism. The police and the Albinism Society of South Africa have a memorandum of understanding to protect the gravesites of persons with albinism from desecration and robbery of remains. In terms of judicial remedies and access to justice in cases of attacks against persons with albinism, 6