Every year in September South Africa commemorates National Albinism Awareness Month and the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu will be chairing a two-day discussion on the plight of persons with albinism from 27 to 28 September in Pretoria, Gauteng.
The Department of Social Development, as the National Coordinating Mechanism on Disability in government and as the coordinating department for all social services, is responsible for the coordination of national strategies aimed at promoting the rights of persons with disabilities who are at risk of compounded marginalisation.
Cabinet approved in 2015, the White paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and places the obligation on government to support the strengthening of a representative voice for persons with disabilities who are under-represented. Persons with albinism form part of under-represented groups.
The United Nations elevated albinism for action within the human rights sector due to the threat to the right to life, dignity, and being protected from torture, degradation and inhuman treatment.
In some African countries, myths and superstitions about a distinct power possessed by the body parts of people with albinism have reinforced discrimination against them and expanded on the types of violations to their right to life. People with albinism are often killed or mutilated for muti-related reasons.
A report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded in 2013 that 200 killings and more than 500 attacks on people with albinism had been reported in 27 sub-Saharan African countries. Tanzania had the highest number of recorded killings of people with albinism.
Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu, has constantly campaigned against the killing of people with albinism. In March and April 2018, she visited the Shabane and Mkhize families in Mpumalanga following the killing and mutilation of their children Gabisile and Xolani who were persons with albinism.
Members of the media are invited to cover the event organised as follows:
Date: 27 September 2018
Venue: The Capital Menlyn Maine, 194 Bancor Ave, Menlyn, Pretoria
Time: 9am
Media can RSVP:
Justice Malapane
Cell: 066 480 6849
E-mail: JusticeD@dsd.gov.za
Media enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
