A/HRC/24/57 All Forms of Racial Discrimination and article 15 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women similarly enshrine the right of everyone to equality before the law. 73. The right to freedom from discrimination would require that States ensure that persons with albinism are afforded equal protection under the law and in practice.66 States are obliged to ensure that their laws, policies and practices address the specific needs of persons with albinism. B. Discrimination against women and children 74. Women and children with albinism are particularly vulnerable as they are exposed to intersecting and multiple forms of discrimination. In addition, children are particularly targeted for ritual killings (see para. 21 above) and women with albinism are sometimes victims of sexual violence.67 75. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has referred to women with albinism as a group of women in a vulnerable situation, meaning that they are at risk of being victims of multiple discrimination.68 According to the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, violence against women is deeply rooted in multiple layers of discrimination and inequality. As these layers of discrimination intersect, violence against women intensifies. Addressing systematic discrimination and marginalization is crucial to ending violence against women (see A/HRC/17/26). In her 2012 report to the Council, the Special Rapporteur included witchcraft-related killings under gender-related killings (A/HRC/20/16, paras. 14 and 16). 76. The Committee on the Rights of the Child has also expressed serious concerns at reports of killings of and attacks against children with albinism, addressing this issue under the right to equality and non-discrimination (art. 2 of the Convention), among other rights. In the case of Burundi, the Committee expressed concern in its concluding observations that “de facto discrimination of children prevails [in the country] and is tolerated in the State party vis-à-vis … albino children” (CRC/C/BDI/CO/2, paras. 29 and 30). The Committee encouraged the State party to review legislative instruments and adopt a comprehensive strategy, including awareness-raising, to eliminate discrimination on any grounds and against all vulnerable groups, particularly children with albinism (ibid.). C. Areas requiring further study 77. Further analysis and consultations are required to determine the category into which persons with albinism may fall and the basis for discrimination against them. In some of the written submissions received from associations working with persons with albinism they are considered persons with disabilities.69 Others refer to discrimination on the ground of skin colour.70 66 67 68 69 Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 18 (1989) on non-discrimination, paras. 1,5 and 10. Submissions from Albinos Sans Frontières, Bien-être des Albinos de Côte d’Ivoire, Confédération nationale des Albinos de Guinée, Association des femmes albinos “Espoir”, Écran Totale and UTSS. In its concluding observations on the United Republic of Tanzania, the Committee expressed concern at reports that women and girls with albinism had been targeted in ritual killings, recommending that the State party protect them (A/63/38, paras. 142–143). See also Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, general comments Nos. 12, 19 and 28. Albinism Fellowship of Australia, Association nationale des Albinos du Sénégal, Association of 15