A Message of Solidarity from Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu on International Albinism Awareness Day 2020, celebrated on 13 June 2020.
On the 13th June 2020 we join the world to celebrate the UN International Albinism Awareness Day. The theme for this year’s International Albinism Awareness Day ‘Made to Shine’, is chosen to both celebrate the achievements and successes of persons with albinism worldwide, as well as calling on governments and communities to stand in solidarity with people with albinism.
The COVID-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the extreme vulnerable position persons with albinism societies place them in, living in a world that at best does not accommodate diversity, and at worst, preys on those who are perceived to be vulnerable, and there is therefore very little to celebrate.
We are a country that rises in unison against gender-based violence and femicide. When black people are equated to monkeys, we rise against that discrimination. But, do we stand up with the same unity when black people themselves call persons with albinism ‘inkawu’? Did we once pause and raise our fists in solidarity with women with albinism sold or killed by their boyfriends for financial gain, or did we simply discard these atrocities as muti-killings?
When we say #MadeToShine on June 13, 2020, let us say it within the context of #StandUp4HumanRights.
I call on all South Africans that as we celebrate this Day, let us re-commit to the acceleration of the implementation of the relevant General Observations contained in the 2018 UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
We say #MadeToShine as we celebrate the MILESTONE by the African Union!!!! Africa has a Special Envoy on Albinism and has adopted the Regional Action Plan (RAP) on albinism as AU policy. The RAP arises from the AU protocol on disability and will be the Special Envoy’s mandate.
As the Department of Social Development, we commit to implement the recommendations relating to social protection contained in the Visit to South Africa Report of the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Persons with Albinism.
We further commit to doing more in working with representative organisations of persons with albinism to fight the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide committed against women and children with albinism.
To do more in strengthening our psycho-social support and social protection services to persons with albinism and their families.
We must and will do more in advocating for the rights of persons with albinism wherever we go and in whatever we do and elevating their voice above the current many social ills that always seem to drown their cry.
We can and must do more to ensure more successful convictions of perpetrators of violence against persons with albinism like the life sentencing of perpetrators of the Witbank atrocity of Gabisile Shabane.
We can and must do more, faster in partnership with representative organisations of persons with albinism and human rights bodies NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US.
Media enquiries may be directed to:
Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067 or LumkaO@dsd.gov.za(link sends e-mail)
