A/HRC/37/57 Attacks, rape, mutilation, infanticide and trafficking of body parts 40. Discrimination and stigmatization against persons with albinism, owing to myths and misbeliefs, lead to several human rights violations. Foremost is the violation of the right to life, which often takes the form of attacks, mutilations, trafficking of body parts and infanticide. For instance, in Benin, there are reports that infanticide has been carried out based on the misbelief that children with albinism cause misfortune. 32 Similarly, in Zimbabwe, it is reported that, “traditionally, children with albinism were associated with witchcraft and bad omens and were killed at birth”.33 Instances of infanticide have also been reported in Swaziland.34 Furthermore, there is also the prevalent “death myth”, which holds that persons with albinism do not die but simply disappear. 41. In some regions, it has been reported that persons with albinism are the subject of positive misbeliefs, such as being considered gods or quasi-deities, as in southern Benin 35 or in the Kuna Lands in Panama. 36 In those cases, the misbeliefs do not generate a direct threat. However, their apparently benign origin is not to be automatically looked upon as favourable since they are still misbeliefs, ignorant of the condition of albinism. Such misbeliefs are also dangerous because they associate the value, dignity and, ultimately, the human rights of persons with albinism with a subjective interpretation, which could change over time. 42. The life expectancy of persons with albinism, particularly children and women with albinism, is also put at risk by harmful practices based on misbelief and witchcraft. A number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa continue to be affected by the ritual defilement and rape of girls and women with albinism because of the belief that their body parts have magic or medicinal qualities. This situation has been caused by the myth that having sexual intercourse with a woman with albinism can cure HIV/AIDS. As a result, persons with albinism, in particular women and children, are more susceptible to HIV infections and face further stigmatization and self-isolation. Persons with albinism who are HIV-positive may not seek treatment for fear of being easily identified. All those factors constitute a multifaceted barrier affecting the right to live in dignity and the life expectancy of persons with albinism, in particular, women and children with albinism. B. Impact of health issues on socioeconomic rights 43. The absence of reasonable accommodation for visual impairment and health care regarding susceptibility to cancer hamper the enjoyment of the right to health, as well as other socioeconomic rights. Access to education and employment by persons with albinism are particularly undermined. Right to education 44. Visual impairment and the associated lack of reasonable accommodation represent a serious barrier to keeping children with albinism in school. In addition to stigmatization and bullying, visual impairment partly accounts for low school attendance. The high susceptibility of skin to cancer and other conditions also act as barriers in accessing education when reasonable accommodation is not provided. For instance, participants at the first Fiji Albinism Awareness Symposium, held in 2015, observed that vision aids and sunscreen were not generally available for children in village schools. 45. Often, the absence of reasonable accommodation at school is due to the lack of awareness about albinism among communities and teachers. For instance, the belief that 32 33 34 35 36 10 Submission of Connexion Worldwide. J.S. Taylor and P.M. Lund, “Experiences of a feasibility study of children with albinism in Zimbabwe: a discussion paper”, International Journal of Nursing Studies, vol. 45, No. 8 (2007), p. 1250. Submission of Stukie Motsa Foundation, Swaziland. Submission of Connexion Worldwide. P. Jeambrun, “Oculocutaneous albinism: clinical, historical and anthropological aspects”, Archives de pédiatrie: organe officiel de la Societe francaise de pediatrie, vol. 5, No. 8 (August 1998), pp. 896– 907.