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

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