On Monday, 2 October 2023, the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria co-hosted a public forum on Mothering, Albinism and Human Rights in South Africa: The Resilience of Mothers Affected by Albinism at the Protea Hotel, Loftus Park, in Pretoria. The public forum was hosted as a collaborative effort between the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria; the Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria; Trinity Western University, Canada; McMaster University, Canada; University of Ottawa, Canada; and University of Toronto, Canada.
The purpose of the public forum was to raise awareness around the human rights violations faced by mothers impacted by albinism in Africa, particularly in South Africa, Ghana and Tanzania. Mothers with albinism and mothers of children with albinism often face discrimination in various areas including access to education and healthcare. Harmful traditional and cultural beliefs in some African countries have also resulted in persons with albinism being murdered for their body parts.
The public forum brought together individuals representing various sectors; namely, academia, civil society, healthcare professionals, and persons with albinism themselves. South Africa, Canada, Ghana and Tanzania were the countries represented at the forum. The public forum highlighted, amongst other things, the need for multi-sectoral approaches to realising the human rights of mothers impacted by albinism, as well the need to raise awareness to eliminate harmful beliefs and practices.
For more information, contact:
Tel: +27 (0)12 420 6345
sabeeha.majid@up.ac.za