RES/37/5 Mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism

 GE.18-05511(E)



Human Rights Council Thirty-seventh session

26 February–23 March 2018

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 22 March 2018

37/5. Mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights

by persons with albinism

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Guided also by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recalling relevant

international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention against Torture and

Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Convention

on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the

Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the

Rights of the Child,

Reaffirming that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person and that

no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or

punishment,

Recalling the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all

human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with albinism to be

guaranteed the full enjoyment of their rights and freedoms without discrimination,

Recalling also its resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the Human Rights

Council, and 5/2, on a Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate Holders of the

Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall discharge his or her

duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,

Reaffirming the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,

Recalling the rights of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and

mental health and education as enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic,

Social and Cultural Rights and other relevant international human rights treaties,

Deeply concerned that, in various parts of the world, persons with albinism continue

to face barriers to their participation as equal members of society and face violations and

abuse of their human rights, and conscious that greater and more urgent attention is needed

to address these challenges,

Expressing grave concern at the fact that attacks and widespread violence

perpetuated against persons with albinism, including women and children, persons with

disabilities and the elderly continue,

Welcoming all the initiatives and actions taken by all Member States to address and

combat all forms of violence and discrimination against persons with albinism,

Welcoming also in this regard the ongoing work to address witchcraft-related

harmful practices as one of the root causes of human rights violations and abuses

perpetuated against persons with albinism, and to engage with stakeholders and carry out

analytical studies in order to enable States to take effective action,

Inviting States to effectively implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development and its principle of leaving no one behind, which requires the prioritization of

those furthest behind, including the enjoyment of all human rights by persons with

albinism,

Calling upon States to ensure accountability through the conduct of impartial,

speedy and effective investigations into attacks against persons with albinism falling within

their jurisdiction, and to bring to justice those responsible and to ensure that victims and

family members have access to appropriate remedies,

Welcoming the regional consultations conducted by the Independent Expert on the

enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism with relevant stakeholders in various

regions, including Africa, and culminating in the development of a regional action plan to

end violations against persons with albinism,

Welcoming also the recent work of the Independent Expert in preparing analytical

studies and holding discussions on harmful practices relating to witchcraft as a particular

risk to persons with albinism in some countries and as one of the root causes of attacks

perpetrated against them,

Recalling all previous resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Human

Rights Council on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism,

1. Commends the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by

persons with albinism for the important work undertaken to end attacks on and to spread

awareness about persons with albinism;

2. Takes note with appreciation of the thematic report of the Independent

Expert,1 which deals, in particular, with attacks and human rights violations in countries

where certain harmful practices, including witchcraft-related practices, have served as one

of the root causes of attacks, and in this regard welcomes the Regional Action Plan on

Albinism in Africa (2017-2021) to end attacks in Africa;

3. Decides to extend the mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment

of human rights by persons with albinism, for a period of three years, on the same terms as

provided by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 28/6 of 26 March 2015;

4. Requests the Independent Expert to integrate a gender perspective throughout

the work of the mandate and to pay specific attention to the challenges and needs of women

and girls in order to address the multiple, intersecting and aggravated forms of

discrimination faced by women and girls with albinism;

5. Calls upon all States to cooperate fully with the Independent Expert and to

respond favourably to her requests to visit their countries and to ensure follow-up on her

recommendations, to provide her with all necessary information relating to the mandate and

to react promptly to her communications and urgent appeals in order to enable her to fulfil

the mandate effectively;

6. Encourages the United Nations, including its specialized agencies, and

regional organizations, national human rights institutions, independent experts, non-

1 A/HRC/37/57.

governmental organizations, the private sector, in particular social enterprises, and other

relevant stakeholders to cooperate to the fullest extent possible with the Independent Expert

in the fulfilment of her mandate;

7. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner

for Human Rights to provide the Independent Expert with all the human and financial

resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of her mandate;

8. Decides to continue consideration of this issue in accordance with its annual

programme of work.

53rd meeting

22 March 2018

[Adopted without a vote.]