A/HRC/34/59 11. In November, the Independent Expert convened a high-level meeting in Pretoria,4 to consult with representatives from the United Nations, the African Union, Governments and civil society organizations on the draft action plan discussed in June in Dar es Salaam. Also in November, the think tank, along with selected experts, convened in Nairobi, 5 to refine the measures identified in the action plan and to build them into an effective road map containing concrete and achievable time-bound measures designed for the African context. 12. The Independent Expert intends to organize another high-level meeting in 2017 to finalize the action plan. III. Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 13. In her report to the General Assembly (A/71/255), in which she provided a preliminary overview of the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism, the Independent Expert showed how interrelated factors, including the mythologization of albinism and a related lack of understanding of the scientific bases of the condition, poverty, witchcraft practices and other aggravating factors all contributed to ongoing outbreaks of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism. In the present report, the Independent Expert refers to “witchcraft” as “phenomena”, to reflect the plurality of concepts, terms, practices and beliefs encompassed by the term. 14. In continuation of that report, the following analysis seeks to further understanding of the broader issue of root causes by looking specifically at witchcraft. Of all identified root causes, witchcraft is one of the most challenging, owing to the complexity and the inherent barriers to the conceptualization of the phenomena. Yet addressing witchcraft remains a priority, as it is at the crux of attacks against persons with albinism. A. A word on albinism 15. Albinism is a relatively rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited condition that affects people worldwide regardless of ethnicity or gender. It results from a significant deficit in the production of melanin and is characterized by the partial or complete absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. Persons with albinism therefore often appear pale in comparison to members of their family and their communities. For a person to be affected by albinism, both parents must carry the gene, and in such cases there is a 25 per cent chance at each pregnancy that a child will be born with albinism. The frequency of albinism varies by region. In Europe and North America, the reported frequency is 1 in 17,000 to 1 in 20,000 births. The frequency in certain parts of the Pacific is reported to be 1 in 700. Among some indigenous peoples in South America, the reported frequency is 1 in 70 to 1 in 125. In sub-Saharan Africa, the reported frequency ranges from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 15,000, with prevalence rates of 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,500 for selected populations. An important caveat is that some studies of the frequency of albinism often lack objectivity in their methodology or are incomplete, rendering estimates as best guesses in most instances. 16. There are different types of albinism. The most common and visible type is oculocutaneous albinism, which affects the skin, hair and eyes. Within this type are subtypes that may reflect varying degrees of melanin deficiency in an individual. Lack of melanin in the eyes results in high sensitivity to bright light and significant vision impairment, with the level of severity varying from one person to another. This vision 4 5 With the support of Open Society Foundation. With the support of Open Society Initiative of South Africa and Open Society Initiative of East Africa. 5