International Albinism Awareness Day (IAAD) is celebrated annually on June 13 to celebrate the human rights of persons with albinism worldwide.

History

Early developments

Around the mid-2000s, reports made public a rising number of violent attacks on and murders of persons with albinism in Tanzania.[1] Many reports have accused perpetrators of attributing magical powers to the bodies of persons with albinism, and thus being motivated to use them for lucky charms and occult rituals.[2][3] Until 2015, perpetrators killed more than 70 victims and harmed many more.[4] In response, the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) and other NGOs began campaigning for the human rights of persons with albinism.[5] TAS celebrated the first Albino Day on May 4, 2006.[6] It became National Albino Day from 2009 onwards and was eventually called National Albinism Day.

United Nations observance

On an international level, the Canadian NGO Under the Same Sun (UTSS) joined late Ambassador of the Mission of Somalia to the United Nations (UN), Yusuf Mohamed Ismail Bari-Bari, in his effort to pass a resolution promoting and protecting the rights of persons with albinism.[7][3] Such a resolution came about when the Human Rights Council on June 13, 2013, adopted the first resolution ever on albinism.[8] Later on, in its resolution 26/10 of June 26, 2014, the Human Rights Council recommended June 13 to be proclaimed as International Albinism Awareness Day by the United Nations' General Assembly.[9] The UN's General Assembly, then, adopted on December 18, 2014, resolution 69/170 to proclaim, with effect from 2015, June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day.[10][11][3] The chosen date is reminiscent of the UN’s first ever resolution which was passed on June 13 a year before.[12] Today, IAAD is celebrated around the world from Tanzania,[13] to Argentina,[14] to Senegal,[15] to Fiji,[16] France,[17] the United Kingdom[18] and Namibia.[19]

Yearly themes

Each year a theme is chosen to set the tone for the days celebrations. So far, they have been the following:

Year Theme
2016 Celebrate diversity; promote inclusion; protect our rights[18]
2017 Advancing with renewed hope[20]
2018 Shining our light to the world[21]
2019 Still standing strong[22]
2020 Made to shine[23]
2021 Strength beyond all odds[24]
2022 United in making our voice heard

References

  1. ^ Ntetema, Vicky (July 24, 2008). "In hiding for exposing Tanzania witchdoctors". BBC News. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  2. ^ Burke, Jean; Kaijage, Theresa J.; John-Langba, Johannes (2014). "Media Analysis of Albino Killings in Tanzania: A Social Work and Human Rights Perspective". Ethics and Social Welfare. 8 (2): 117–134. doi:10.1080/17496535.2014.895398. S2CID 145587091.
  3. ^ a b c Ager, Susan (June 13, 2015). "Awareness Day Seeks to End Abuses Against Albinos". National Geographic. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  4. ^ Smith, David (February 18, 2015). "Kidnapped Tanzanian albino boy found dead with limbs hacked off". The Guardian. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  5. ^ Brocco, Giorgio (June 7, 2015). "People with Albinism and Humanitarian NGOs in Tanzania: Identities between Local and Global Worlds". medizinethnologie.net. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  6. ^ Awami, Sammy (May 17, 2014). "INSIGHT: 'People with albinism need legal protection'". The Citizen. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  7. ^ n.a. (n.d.). "History of International Albinism Awareness Day". National Organization of Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH). Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  8. ^ "23/13. Attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism". Human Rights Council of the United Nations. June 24, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  9. ^ "26/10 International Albinism Awareness Day". Human Rights Council of the United Nations. July 14, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  10. ^ "Resolution 69/170 on International Albinism Day". General Assembly of the United Nations. February 12, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  11. ^ n.a. (June 13, 2017). "Human Rights body calls for unity in defending rights of people living with albinism". The Citizen. Retrieved November 27, 2018. On 18 December 2014, the United Nation General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming, with effect from 2015, 13 June as International Albinism Awareness Day.
  12. ^ n.a. (n.d.). "History of International Albinism Awareness Day" (PDF). National Organization of Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH). Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  13. ^ Mwalimu, Saumu; Juma, Mussa; Ismail, Bertha (June 14, 2015). "Song on people with albinism moves JK to tears in Arusha". The Citizen. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  14. ^ Martín, Gabriela (June 11, 2016). "13 de junio: Día Internacional de la sensibilización sobre el albinismo". Día a Día. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  15. ^ "Pictures of the Day: 14 June 2018". The Telegraph. 14 June 2018.
  16. ^ n.a. (2018-06-03). "Albinism Awareness Day to address stigmatization". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2019-09-02. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  17. ^ Hédon, Claire (June 13, 2016). "Journée internationale de sensibilisation à l'albinisme". Radio France Internationale. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Renton, Ellen (June 13, 2016). "'Look at her hair' – I wish albinism didn't make people stare". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  19. ^ n.a. (June 14, 2018). "International Albinism Awareness Day: Cancer, Not Discrimination, Threatens Namibian Albinos". African News Network. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  20. ^ n.a. (July 21, 2017). "International Albinism Awareness day 2017". Albinism in Africa. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  21. ^ n.a. (June 11, 2018). "International Albinism Awareness Day, 13 June 2018". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  22. ^ n.a. (n.d.). "International Albinism Awareness Day, 13 June 2019" (PDF). International Albinism Awareness Day. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  23. ^ n.a. (n.d.). "International Albinism Awareness Day". International Albinism Awareess Day. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  24. ^ Singh, Prashasti (13 June 2021). "International albinism awareness day: All you need to know about the condition". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

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