A/HRC/31/63 sufficient knowledge remains a significant barrier to tackling discrimination, stigmatization and violence.15 33. Discrimination, stigma and bullying of persons with albinism owing to their appearance have been reported in all regions of the world, to varying degrees. Such discrimination has been described as discrimination based on skin tone or shade, including within the same ethnic group. While discrimination based on skin colour is an everyday reality for most persons with albinism, discourse on discrimination based on colour has rarely been applied to albinism. This is for various reasons such as the lack of visibility of albinism, until very recently, the lack of understanding of what persons with albinism experience and lastly, but perhaps most significantly, strong historical ties of racial discrimination discourse to race or ethnicity. Yet, there is potential to address albinism under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as the governing concept is not “race” but “racial discrimination”, which may be based on any of five “grounds”: race, colour, descent, national origin and ethnic origin.16 C. Disability 34. The term “persons with disabilities” under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has a broad scope and includes any person with a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment, which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder his or her full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. 35. 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 impairment often cannot be completely corrected. In some countries, this has led to the categorization of persons with albinism as legally blind, which enables them to access the national legal frameworks in the field of the rights of persons with disabilities, including measures related to access to health and education. 36. Legal frameworks for the enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities, including the Convention, could address issues faced by persons with albinism on the basis of their vision impairment. The Convention in particular identifies areas where adaptations have to be made so that persons with disabilities can fully enjoy their human rights, including access to education, employment, information and health care. Furthermore, the Convention has established as principles respect for inherent dignity, equality of opportunity, full and effective participation and inclusion in society and non-discrimination. On that basis, urgent measures could be implemented to address pressing issues relating to the visual impairment of persons with albinism. However, those measures would need to be combined with other measures designed to address other forms of discrimination faced by persons with albinism as well as to address attacks and to ensure access to health care. D. Health 37. One of the most serious health implications of albinism is the vulnerability to skin cancer. Skin cancer remains a life-threatening condition for most persons with albinism. Statistics on the issue are mostly from Africa and they indicate a worrying trend. Some 15 16 10 See A/HRC/28/75, para. 43. See OHCHR and International Organization of la Francophonie, “Expert meeting on persons with albinism: violence, discrimination and way forward”, outcome report, 24 September 2014, para. 33.