In partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), from the 18th to 25th March 2021, OIPPA conducted participatory trainings to girls and women with albinism (GWA), mothers of children with albinism (MCWA) and men with albinism (MWA) about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Trainings were held in Musanze, Gasabo and Rutsiro where 80 members participated.
Participants were given heed to discuss on different aspects of violence and root causes of the violence they experience in their daily lives including Prejudices around albinism and provocative words, discrimination, stigma, social injustice, accusations for infidelity, poverty and so on. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which has an objective to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
The trainings were the best platform to unleash everyone’s concerns from which all participants took numerous measures to advocate for themselves and made some recommendation to fight such ongoing violence of persons with albinism. It is important to note that myths and stereotypes are key drivers of the violence against persons with albinism and they need to strategically be addressed through community mobilization, media, education and social media platforms.
