A/HRC/34/59
by a diversity of terms, research has to be undertaken with particular attention to the
specific sociocultural context.
Public education
87.
Public education, including awareness-raising on the scientific explanations for
albinism, is one of the most fundamental tools for changing myths and erroneous beliefs
that trigger violence against persons with albinism. For example, in a pilot project carried
out in 2015-2016, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
country office in the United Republic of Tanzania undertook community sensitization using
community radio and employing the sociocultural approach by empowering key
community stakeholders such as teachers, health workers, traditional leaders, traditional
healers and family members of persons with albinism to in turn mobilize their communities
to protect and promote the well-being and rights of people with albinism. The project was a
marked success. A post-project evaluation report revealed a quantifiable increase — in the
double digits — in the percentage of people claiming knowledge about albinism, including
its genetic basis and that it is not a curse.
88.
The project illustrated the value of such campaigns and associated post-project
evaluation not only for the dissemination of information and changing of attitudes and
behaviour but also to gather data, as they revealed instructive patterns in the targeted
communities. For example, the belief that body parts of a person with albinism have
magical powers was found among respondents adhering to various religious groups:
Christians, Muslims and traditional believers. In the context of the survey, the latter group
had the highest number of believers in that myth. This type of information is helpful for
understanding the character of the problem and grounding solutions such as working with
all religious leaders. It also identifies areas where increased public education efforts or
more targeted projects might be warranted. The evaluation found that youth and women
were more likely to have misconceived notions about albinism than men. This suggests that
the project did not reach women and youth to the same extent as it did men and that it is
necessary to plan and implement further interventions that target these groups in
particular.23
89.
The Independent Expert recommends the implementation of similar projects in all
countries affected by any or all of the phenomena of attacks, discrimination and stigma
against persons with albinism. Such projects should not be interrupted and last for a
minimum of two years. Content should be accessible, including through the use of
vernacular languages. Social media, mobile phone technology, community radio, rural
cinema and television programmes have also proven to be particularly useful for
awareness-raising. Creative awareness-raising methodologies and new ways of presenting
information, including through community theatre and celebrity ambassadors, have also
been successful.
90.
Finally, campaigns should engage faith-based organizations, traditional leaders,
persons with albinism and their families. They should address witchcraft and related
beliefs, as well as fundamental topics involving albinism, including biological and scientific
information on the genetic origins of the condition and other objective facts to debunk
myths and misbeliefs surrounding the condition.
23
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), “Evaluation of the
impact of the UNESCO intervention relating to people with albinism carried out within the
framework of the UN Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP 2011-2016) in Tanzania”, 2016,
unpublished.
19
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