#colorism

By Vesla C. Kals

Every year on 13 June, the world marks International Albinism Awareness Day, an occasion dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by people living with albinism. While the day continues to spotlight discrimination, violence and unequal access to healthcare, advocates say the conversation must now move beyond protection towards inclusion, opportunity and recognition.

For decades, discussions about albinism across Africa have largely centred on fear and vulnerability. In several countries, deeply rooted myths have fuelled stigma, social exclusion and, in extreme cases, brutal attacks against people with albinism. These misconceptions have denied many individuals the opportunity to live with dignity, despite albinism being nothing more than an inherited genetic condition affecting the body's production of melanin, the pigment responsible for the colour of the skin, hair and eyes.

According to the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, misinformation remains one of the greatest barriers to inclusion. Chiara Retis, Technical Officer for Disability and Rehabilitation at WHO Africa, says many harmful beliefs continue to circulate in communities. "Unfortunately today there is still several beliefs that are quite widespread in communities," she told TRT Afrika. "For example, the belief that being born with albinism is a punishment or a curse or that albinism is contagious, which is not true because albinism is a genetic condition and not communicable."

Retis added that some communities continue to believe people with albinism possess supernatural powers or that their body parts have magical properties, myths that have contributed to horrific acts of violence in several African countries. Human rights organisations have repeatedly documented cases of killings, mutilations and trafficking linked to these dangerous beliefs.

Beyond discrimination, people with albinism face significant health challenges. Because their skin lacks sufficient melanin, they are highly susceptible to damage from ultraviolet radiation. Without proper protection, prolonged exposure to sunlight dramatically increases the risk of skin cancer, which remains one of the leading causes of preventable death among people with albinism in many parts of Africa.

Despite these risks, access to sunscreen, protective clothing, specialised eye care and regular skin examinations remains limited, particularly in rural communities. Advocates argue that this is no longer simply a healthcare issue but a matter of public policy and human rights.

A significant breakthrough came in September 2025 when the World Health Organization endorsed sunscreen as one of the essential health products for children. According to Retis, the decision encourages member states to include sunscreen on their national essential medicines lists, making it available free of charge through public health systems. "This is a very important achievement because it asks member countries to adapt and adopt this resolution and add sunscreen products as essential medicine," she explained.

While improved healthcare is essential, campaigners insist that medical support alone will not eliminate the barriers people with albinism continue to face. Across the continent, many children still experience exclusion in schools, while adults often encounter discrimination in employment and public life. These obstacles are frequently driven not by physical limitations but by prejudice and misinformation.

Yet there are encouraging signs of change. Increasingly, people with albinism are occupying leadership positions as lawyers, teachers, journalists, academics, entrepreneurs, government officials and human rights advocates. Their visibility is steadily challenging long-held stereotypes and demonstrating that albinism does not define intelligence, ability or ambition.

For campaigners, these achievements represent a shift in perspective. Rather than viewing people with albinism solely through the lens of vulnerability, society is beginning to recognise their contributions and potential. Success stories from classrooms, boardrooms and public institutions reinforce the message that equal opportunity, not pity, should shape the future.

This year's International Albinism Awareness Day therefore carries a broader message. Awareness remains important, but inclusion must become the ultimate goal. Governments are being urged to strengthen legal protections, improve access to healthcare and invest in education that dispels harmful myths. Communities, meanwhile, have a responsibility to reject superstition and embrace diversity.

As Retis observes, "Awareness is important, but inclusion is the ultimate goal. People with albinism should not only survive. They should have the opportunity to thrive."

That aspiration extends beyond a single awareness day. It reflects a growing movement to ensure that albinism is recognised not as a symbol of fear or misfortune, but as one aspect of human diversity. For millions of people living with albinism around the world, that shift in attitude may prove to be the most meaningful form of progress.