Every year on June 13th, International Albinism Awareness Day celebrates the rights of human beings born with albinism and aims to increase awareness and understanding of this genetic condition.
Albinism is characterized by a lack of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes. According to the National Institutes of Health, albinism is a rare disease. Throughout the world, one in 20,000 people have albinism. The disorder is most prevalent in parts of Africa. About one in four people in South Africa have albinism. In Tanzania, it’s believed that as many as one in 1,400 could have the genetic condition.
In 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution that called for the prevention of discrimination against persons with albinism. On December 18, 2014, the UN General Assembly proclaimed June 13th as International Albinism Awareness Day. The first observance was in 2015.
2021 Theme - "Strength Beyond All Odds" is the theme for this year's International Albinism Awareness Day.
The theme was chosen to:
- Highlight the achievements of people with albinism around the world.
- Show that people with albinism can defy all odds.
- Celebrate how people with albinism worldwide meet and exceed expectations in all domains of life.
- Encourage everyone during this time of a global pandemic to join the global effort to #BuildBackBetter
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