A/HRC/43/42 harassment and violence, particularly in parts of Africa and Latin America, for reasons including superstitions, fetishes and curiosity due to their colouring and appearance. Girls with albinism are often insulted for not conforming to, or for attempting to conform to, the prevailing standard of “beauty”. Boys with albinism who are disowned by their fathers reportedly suffer from low self-esteem and psychological trauma linked to the lack of a father figure, particularly in patriarchal societies. This is also due to the multiple and intersecting discrimination they experience because of albinism. 19 31. Bullying of children with albinism was reported in all regions. The problem was particularly dire in schools in rural areas. For instance, in some parts of Africa, due to systemic overcrowding and poor learning conditions, particularly in rural public schools, teachers rarely had the time to address the bullying and social isolation faced by children with albinism, or any interest in doing so.20 Furthermore, many teachers are simply unaware of or insensitive to the educational needs of learners with albinism or lack any knowledge of how to provide reasonable accommodation for them. 21 32. Bullying incidents are not limited to school settings.22 In several regions, children with albinism are bullied in various spheres of society. A non-governmental organization in Japan stated that bullying is still notable in some local schools, largely due to the hair colour of children with albinism. Given the lack of an effective response from school authorities to end the bullying, many parents change their children’s hair colour to black so that they are accepted by their peers and school authorities. In some cases, children have been instructed by school authorities to dye their hair black. 33. Within various communities across Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, children with albinism also face stigma instigated by adults. For instance, submissions received indicate that adults fuel the exclusion of children with albinism by warning their own children against playing with children with albinism. 23 In Africa, because the rate of abductions and killings of persons with albinism is particularly high for children, parents of children with albinism often keep them hidden and prevent them from taking part in social interactions. Hiding may also occur in order to reduce stigma on the family. 24 Hiding, for whatever reason, deprives children with albinism from having healthy social relationships, unlike their peers without albinism. This has an adverse effect on their mental and social development. 34. To avoid bullying and discrimination and enhance safety, some children have been taken to, or have chosen to attend, special schools such as schools for children with visual impairment. Social inclusion in special schools is sometimes problematic, and learners with albinism can continue to face bullying even in these schools. Moreover, these schools often promote segregation and not integration, especially when they provide a curriculum that is limited in comparison to that offered in mainstream schools. 35. As a result of incessant bullying, insults, rejection, isolation, exclusion and overall discrimination, both in and out of school, children with albinism across the world tend to develop low self-esteem and mental health and psychosocial challenges, 25 including anxiety, depression26 and suicidal ideation. Others succumb to alcohol and drug abuse as an antidote again discrimination and stigma. 27 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Submission from Kenya. Submission from Zimbabwe. Submissions from Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Submissions from Argentina, Colombia, Haiti and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). Submissions from Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire and Turkey. Submissions from Colombia and Uganda. Submissions from Colombia and Haiti (Fondation ALBHA). Submissions from Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador. See also A.J. Samdani and B.K. Khoso, “A unique albino village of Bhatti tribe in rural Sindh, Pakistan, with oculocutaneous albinism manifestations: an epidemiological study”, Iranian Journal of Dermatology, vol. 12, No. 2 (2009). Submissions from Colombia, Kenya, Mali and Senegal. 7