A/HRC/43/42
not have the contextual knowledge to adequately handle albinism-specific cases.105 Other
cost-related barriers also exist. For instance, in Uganda, it was reported that the police
charge a fee for making inquiries into an allegation, which is unaffordable for most persons
with albinism,106 particularly women who are often the most economically disadvantaged.
Furthermore, the corruption that can occur in police departments is costly to the
complainants and effectively delays investigations. 107
80.
Rehabilitative support for women and children with albinism who are victims of
attacks and discrimination is largely unavailable, although sporadic support is often
provided by civil society organizations. 108 This lack of support adversely affects the
sustainability of such initiatives.
V. Best practices: law, policy, concrete measures and
development initiatives
A.
Meaningful participation
81.
Programmes are currently being rolled out by civil society organizations in Kenya
and the United Republic of Tanzania to develop forums and structures that enable women
with albinism and mothers of children with albinism to share information, access to social
and psychosocial support, and carry out joint economic activities. 109 There are also civic
spaces for enhancing autonomy and agency by developing both self-advocacy and groupadvocacy skills to enable women and girls impacted by albinism to participate in public
decision-making that concerns them.110
82.
In the United Republic of Tanzania, a mothers’ group for women impacted by
albinism, called Upendo wa Mama (“mothers’ love” in Swahili), empowers its members by
giving them a physical space to carry out income-generating activities, nurture solidarity
and provide emotional support, especially for women whose children have been attacked or
rejected and for mothers experiencing domestic problems. It is a platform for individuals to
assert their strength, and helps leaders in the fight to build a better society for persons with
albinism in the United Republic of Tanzania, particularly mothers and children impacted by
the condition. 111 In 2019, the organization Positive Exposure-Kenya launched a mobile
application called “Albinism and I” to demystify albinism and connect people to helpful
resources in their area. The organization also provides a skills training programme for
women impacted by albinism.
83.
Article 6 of the 2017 Constitution of the Junior Council of the United Republic of
Tanzania provides for special measures for the inclusion of children with albinism (among
other vulnerable groups) in its processes. The Junior Council currently has two children
with albinism on its executive committee. 112 Similarly, article 54 (2) of the 2010
Constitution of Kenya provides that at least 5 per cent of the members of elected and
appointed public bodies must be persons with disabilities. 113 Consequently, several persons
with albinism now hold high positions in the Government and other institutions, including
the Senate and the High Court.114
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
16
Submission from Kenya.
Submission from Uganda.
Submission from Malawi.
Submission from Colombia.
See https://allafrica.com/stories/201910250107.html and https://positiveexposure.org/our-amazingjayne-waithera-positive-exposure-kenya./.
Submission from Kenya.
See https://standingvoice.exposure.co/upendo-wa-mama.
Submission from United Republic of Tanzania.
Submission from Kenya (Government).
Ibid.
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