PERSONS WITH ALBINISM MUST NOT BE TREATED AS “GHOSTS”, UN EXPERTS STRESS
NEW YORK, 4 May 2013 / PRNewswire Africa / – A United Nations group of independent experts today drew attention to discrimination against persons with albinism in Tanzania, where they are the victims of ritual attacks and are routinely mistreated.
“They are regarded as ghosts and not human beings who can be wiped off the global map,” said the group in a message marking Tanzania’s National Albinism Day. “People living with albinism [are] the target of many false and harmful myths in several countries, especially in the African region.”
Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited condition occurring in both genders regardless of ethnicity, in all countries of the world.
It can happen to anyone if both father and mother carry the gene for it even if they do not have albinism themselves. Albinism results in a lack of pigmentation in the hair, skin and eyes, causing vulnerability to sun exposure and bright light.
