Covid-19 exacerbates stigma against women with albinism
What you need to know:
- Discrimination against women with albinism still rife despite global campaigns to respect their human rights.
- Persons with albinism face discrimination in search for job placements, attributing it to employers’ ignorance.
- Women with albinism urged to remain relentless in the fight against stereotypes meant to put them down.
- In some countries, they have been branded “Corona” or “Covid-19” to scapegoat them for the pandemic.
Stigma and discrimination against women with albinism is still rife despite years of global campaign to respect their human rights.
In 2013, United Nations Human Rights Council adopted resolution 23/13 calling for prevention of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism.
They, however, continue to receive derogative brands, attacks and exclusion in decision making circles.
United Nation's first Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Ikponwosa Ero, said her advocacy recommendations have on different professional meetings been dismissed for being a woman.
“They say ‘Oh, this is an emotional point, of course she is a woman’,” she said during a June 12, Facebook live discussion on Celebrating Women and Girls with Albinism.
She, however, added that the essence of advocacy is defeated when the real emotional stories are untold.
Ms Ero, nevertheless advised women to create a reputation of credibility, honesty and hardwork to attract eyes and ears of men at the decision making table.
“You can break down patriarchy by doing what is right,” she said.
She decried of persons with albinism facing discrimination in search for job placements, attributing it to employers’ ignorance.
“Bilateral engagements between the corporates and the civil society is what is needed for the corporates to understand who the people with albinism are and what they can do, so that they can start hiring them,” she said.
COVID-19
Founder of Albinism Society of South Africa, Nomasonto Mazibuko, urged women with albinism to remain relentless in the fight against stereotypes meant to put them down.
“They say women with albinism are barren but I have four beautiful kids,” she said.
Currently, people with albinism are facing a new stigma associated with global outbreak of Covid-19.
“In some countries, they have been branded “Corona” or “Covid-19” in an attempt to scapegoat them for the pandemic,” reads a message on celebration of International Albinism Awareness Day, posted on the UN website.
“Killings, attacks, bullying, dehumanising stigma and discrimination continue against people with albinism,” it added.
This year’s celebrations, marked annually on June 13, were held under the theme Made to Shine. The theme sought to call on the global community to celebrate the achievements and successes of persons with albinism across the world.
