A/HRC/43/42/Add.1 71. South African authorities face difficulties in identifying and apprehending perpetrators of attacks, notably when these are related to the cross-border trade in body parts of persons with albinism. Although the Trafficking Act exists, the Independent Expert is not aware of how many albinism cases have been prosecuted under this Act, despite the likelihood that the black market for ritual killings is continuing. Its implementation needs to be evaluated. In the case of Gabisile Shabani, for instance, the mutilated child with albinism was found in a shallow grave with several body parts missing, which are reportedly in Eswatini. A traditional healer from Eswatini was implicated in the crime, and to date the case is stalled – reportedly for technical reasons – and family members have not been able to bury the victim with dignity. (h) Representation 72. Representation is crucial for social inclusion. In all relevant public processes and discourses – on disabilities, health and education, among others – it is important to make efforts to reach out not only to persons with disabilities, but also to those who have rarely been represented in such arenas. The Independent Expert notes that the Government has made commendable strides in this area. 73. Throughout the visit, the Independent Expert was very concerned at the inaccurate portrayal of persons with albinism in public discourse. These misrepresentations feed into the stigma and discrimination that persons with albinism experience on a daily basis. The Independent Expert urges the creative arts industry and the media to engage in responsible narratives by consulting widely in developing shows that are on television and radio, among other media, and to include persons with albinism in ordinary roles that highlight the positive contributions that they make to society as any other person in South Africa does. She also calls on all media personalities, particularly journalists who report on crimes against persons with albinism, to report on these cases sensitively and responsibly. This includes avoiding the use of dehumanizing names, and sensational reporting, and leaving out the alleged prices of body parts, which could incentivize perpetrators of attacks. 74. Some good practices to further enhance representation include appointing champions for albinism. This should include various persons with albinism of various ethnicities. It should also involve influencers with albinism using their platforms to raise awareness about the condition and to debunk myths and misbeliefs. The Independent Expert was pleased to watch a performance by persons with albinism, supported by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, entitled Mama, I Want To Be the Black That You Are, which gave a holistic portrayal of the struggles and pains experienced by persons with albinism. Renowned public influencers such as artists and models with albinism also met with the Independent Expert and provided insight on how they raise awareness by sharing widely their personal journeys. 75. Cultural events, and popular platforms showcasing the beauty of albinism as a part of diversity, help raise awareness in popular forums. These help to mitigate the “us versus them” narratives that are inadvertently produced through awareness-raising activities. They also help depict the lives of persons with albinism as “ordinary”, and to debunk myths, misbeliefs, prejudice or negative stereotypes about them. 76. The Independent Expert held a consultation with over 40 civil society organizations representing persons with albinism from six provinces including Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape and North West. From the consultation, a task force was formed to facilitate collective decision-making and advocacy. The task force, with the help of government and other stakeholders, will develop a time-bound national action plan of concrete measures together with an implementation strategy to promote the enjoyment of human rights for persons with albinism. This is a best practice that is employed in neighbouring countries, as it unifies persons with albinism, and provides an avenue for government to concretely intervene in areas that persons with albinism themselves have identified as priorities. 77. The Independent Expert urges the Government not only to support the development of this national action plan, but also to fund its processes and, at the least, some of the priorities identified in it, as has been done in other countries in the region such as Kenya 14