International Albinism Awareness Day Explained

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] 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] 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:

YearTheme
2016Celebrate diversity; promote inclusion; protect our rights
2017Advancing with renewed hope[20]
2018Shining our light to the world[21]
2019Still standing strong[22]
2020Made to shine[23]
2021Strength beyond all odds[24]
2022United in making our voice heard
2023Inclusion is strength

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: In hiding for exposing Tanzania witchdoctors . Ntetema . Vicky . July 24, 2008 . . October 26, 2018.
  2. Burke . Jean . Kaijage . Theresa J. . John-Langba . Johannes . Media Analysis of Albino Killings in Tanzania: A Social Work and Human Rights Perspective . Ethics and Social Welfare . 8 . 2 . 117–134 . 2014 . 10.1080/17496535.2014.895398. 145587091 .
  3. Web site: Awareness Day Seeks to End Abuses Against Albinos . https://web.archive.org/web/20150616084109/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/06/150613-albino-awareness-day-africa-pictures-discrimination-violence/ . dead . June 16, 2015 . Ager . Susan . June 13, 2015 . . November 26, 2018.
  4. News: Kidnapped Tanzanian albino boy found dead with limbs hacked off . Smith . David . February 18, 2015 . . October 26, 2018.
  5. Web site: People with Albinism and Humanitarian NGOs in Tanzania: Identities between Local and Global Worlds . Brocco . Giorgio . June 7, 2015 . medizinethnologie.net . October 26, 2018.
  6. Web site: INSIGHT: 'People with albinism need legal protection' . Awami . Sammy . May 17, 2014 . . November 27, 2018.
  7. Web site: History of International Albinism Awareness Day . n.a. . n.d. . National Organization of Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH) . October 26, 2018.
  8. Web site: 23/13. Attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism . June 24, 2013 . Human Rights Council of the United Nations . October 26, 2018.
  9. Web site: 26/10 International Albinism Awareness Day . July 14, 2014 . Human Rights Council of the United Nations . November 28, 2018.
  10. Web site: Resolution 69/170 on International Albinism Day . February 12, 2015 . General Assembly of the United Nations . October 26, 2018.
  11. Web site: Human Rights body calls for unity in defending rights of people living with albinism . n.a. . June 13, 2017 . . 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. Web site: History of International Albinism Awareness Day . n.a. . n.d. . National Organization of Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH) . October 26, 2018.
  13. Web site: Song on people with albinism moves JK to tears in Arusha . Mwalimu . Saumu . Juma . Mussa . Ismail . Bertha . June 14, 2015 . . November 30, 2018.
  14. Web site: 13 de junio: Día Internacional de la sensibilización sobre el albinismo . Martín . Gabriela . June 11, 2016 . Día a Día . November 26, 2018.
  15. News: Pictures of the Day: 14 June 2018. The Telegraph. 14 June 2018.
  16. Web site: Albinism Awareness Day to address stigmatization . n.a. . 2018-06-03 . . November 26, 2018 . 2019-09-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190902001531/http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/64477/albinism-awareness-day-to-address-stigmatization . dead .
  17. Web site: Journée internationale de sensibilisation à l'albinisme . Hédon . Claire . June 13, 2016 . . November 26, 2018.
  18. News: 'Look at her hair' – I wish albinism didn't make people stare . Renton . Ellen . June 13, 2016 . . 28 October 2018.
  19. Web site: International Albinism Awareness Day: Cancer, Not Discrimination, Threatens Namibian Albinos . n.a. . June 14, 2018 . African News Network . November 26, 2018 . January 7, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190107232932/https://annafrica.net/2018/06/14/international-albinism-awareness-day-cancer-not-discrimination-threatens-namibian-albinos/ . dead .
  20. Web site: International Albinism Awareness day 2017 . n.a. . July 21, 2017 . Albinism in Africa . October 28, 2018.
  21. Web site: International Albinism Awareness Day, 13 June 2018 . n.a. . June 11, 2018 . Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights . October 28, 2018 .
  22. Web site: International Albinism Awareness Day, 13 June 2019 . n.a. . n.d. . International Albinism Awareness Day . June 13, 2020 . 13 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200613091924/https://www.albinismday.com/sites/default/files/Themes%20IAAD%202019_0.pdf . dead .
  23. Web site: International Albinism Awareness Day . n.a. . n.d. . International Albinism Awareess Day . June 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200612035011/https://www.un.org/en/observances/albinism-day . 12 June 2020 . dead.
  24. News: Singh . Prashasti . International albinism awareness day: All you need to know about the condition . 3 August 2021 . . 13 June 2021.

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