People living with albinism still marginalised

COMMUNITIES have been urged to work together to ensure that stigmas associated with persons with disabilities are eradicated.

Deputy Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize said issues and challenges faced by people living with albinism were often overlooked and ignored by many in society.

She said this was despite the fact that people living with albinism still faced multiple forms of discrimination worldwide. She added that albinism was still by and large profoundly misunderstood, socially and medically.

Mkhize said the physical appearance of persons with albinism was also often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, which often times fostered their marginalisation and led to social exclusion.

“The importance of this day cannot be overstated, but it is often overlooked due to persons with albinism being considered outsiders or outcasts who do not deserve a voice.”

She said the global community wanted to focus on highlighting the achievements of people with albinism around the world and show that they could defy all odds.

At the same time, Mkhize said they wanted to celebrate how people with albinism worldwide had met and in some cases exceeded the expectations in all domains of life.

She said the theme sought to encourage everyone during this time of the pandemic to join the global efforts to #BuildBackBetter.

The deputy minister said it was particularly important for South Africa to join the global community in fighting for persons with disabilities and persons with albinism, as that community were among the most marginalised and vulnerable of the country’s citizens.

“Very little attention is given to protecting them from human rights violations, threats and violent crime. This applies moreso to children with albinism who are often kidnapped and murdered as part of barbaric practices.

“Parents of these children are even afraid to send them to school in fear of them being kidnapped and murdered.

“Those living with albinism grow up living a life of fear as stories of being kidnapped and violence are drilled into them for their own safety.”

Statistics point to there being approximately 12 000 affected individuals in South Africa.

However, Mkhize said the number could be much higher due to unregistered births, as well as parents with children with albinism fleeing from other countries to South Africa to seek protection for their children.

“Wherever you are, I ask that you include persons with albinism in your social circles and ensure that your children are educated not to discriminate against children with albinism at their schools.”