Brazil: UN expert to assess human rights of people with albinism

Portuguese version

GENEVA (25 October 2019) - The UN Independent expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Ikponwosa Ero, will conduct her first visit to Brazil from 28 October to 8 November 2019.

“My visit will focus primarily on gathering facts about the experiences of people with albinism and their family members particularly in relation to stigma and discrimination,” said Ero. “I will also consider barriers in the right to access to health, education and the right to be included in the community. In so doing, I aim to meet people with albinism across various sections of society including women, older persons and young people.

“I look forward to engaging with the authorities and other stakeholders in a spirit of collaboration that could hopefully contribute to protecting and promoting the human rights of people with albinism and their family members.” 

During her visit, the Independent Expert will hold meetings in Brasilia, Maceió, Salvador and São Paulo. She will meet federal, state and municipal Government representatives, civil society organisations, academics, as well as people with albinism, their families and representative organisations, the international community and various others who work on issues related to her mandate.

Ero will hold a news conference on 8 November 2019 to share her preliminary observations. It will begin at 12:00 pm local time at the UN House in Brasilia (North Embassy Sector Sergio Vieira de Mello Complex Lote 17 - Asa Norte, Brasília - DF, 70800-922). Access to the press conference will be limited to journalists.

The Independent Expert will submit a comprehensive report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2021.

ENDS

Ms Ikponwosa Ero (Nigeria) was designated in June 2015 as the first UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism by the Human Rights Council. Inspired by her experiences as a person with albinism, Ms Ero has, for more than a decade, been actively engaged in research, policy development and advocacy concerning the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism. As international advocacy and legal officer of Under the Same Sun, an NGO with a focus on albinism, she has participated in multiple activities and panels at the UN in Geneva and New York. She is also the author of numerous papers and articles on the issue, including with regards to the response to, and categorization of people with albinism in the international human rights system.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights country page: Brazil

For more information and media requests please contact:

In Brazil (during the visit): Ms. Angela Pires Terto (angela.pires@one.un.org) or Ms. Alice Ochsenbein (+41 79 444 45 52; aochsenbein@ohchr.org
In Geneva after the visit Ms. Alice Ochsenbein (+41 22 917 32 98) or write to albinism@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Mr. Jeremy Laurence, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org)

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