12 | March 27, 2019
RIGHTS REVIEW
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A CONVERSATION WITH IKPONWOSA ERO, INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON THE ENJOYMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY PERSONS WITH ALBINISM By Chelsey Legge (4L JD/MPP)
MS. IKPONWOSA ERO SPEAKING AT THE EUROPEAN DAYS OF ALBINISM MEETING IN NORWAY, MARCH 2018.PHOTO CREDIT: UNKNOWN.
Albinism is a relatively rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited condition which most commonly results in the lack of melanin pigment in the hair, skin and eyes. The absence of melanin means persons with albinism are especially vulnerable to skin cancer and other damage from the sun - skin cancer tends to kill most persons with albinism before age 40 - and their eyes are often sensitive to bright light. Additionally, the physical appearance of persons with albinism is often the object of erroneous beliefs and my ths influenced by superstition, which leads to marginalization, social exclusion,
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and various forms of stigma and discrimination. Persons with albinism face several human rights challenges including discrimination based on colour; discrimination based on disability; special needs in terms of access to education and enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health; harmful traditional practices; violence, including killings and ritual attacks; trade and trafficking of body par ts for witchcraft-related purposes; infanticide; and abandonment of children. Since Januar y of this year, the Interna-
tional Human Rights Program (IHRP) has been providing research suppor t to the United Nations (UN) Independent Exper t on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Ms. Ikponwosa Ero. Currently, Ms. Ero, with additional suppor t from the University of Pretoria (South Africa), is working with the Pan African Parliament to develop guidelines on harmful practices related to manifestation of beliefs in witchcraft. Persons with albinism constitute a key victim group for the purposes of the guidelines; other victim groups include women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities
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more broadly. The IHRP students involved on this project – Madeline Torrie (2L), Nicole Thompson (2L) and I – have conducted research into the literature on harmful traditional practices; research on best practices in balancing concurrent rights such as freedom of religious belief and cultural rights; and comparative research on effective legislative frameworks for combatting harmful practices. This month, as our involvement in the IHRP clinic project wraps up, I had the oppor tunity to chat with Ms. Ero about her experiences as a
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