RES/28/6 Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism

GE.15-07493 (E)

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Human Rights Council Twenty-eighth session

Agenda item 3

Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,

political, economic, social and cultural rights,

including the right to development

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council

28/6. 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 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,

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 violations and abuse

of their human rights, and conscious that greater attention is needed to address these

challenges,

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

and 5/2 on the 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,

Recalling also its resolutions 23/13 of 13 June 2013 on attacks and discrimination

against persons with albinism, 24/33 of 27 September 2013 on technical cooperation for the

prevention of attacks against persons with albinism, and 26/10 of 26 June 2014 on

International Albinism Awareness Day,

Recalling further General Assembly resolution 69/170 of 18 December 2014 in

which the Assembly decided to proclaim 13 June as International Albinism Awareness

Day, with effect from 2015,

Taking note of the preliminary report on persons with albinism submitted by the

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Human Rights

Council at its twenty-fourth session,1

Expressing grave concern at the attacks and widespread violations against persons

with albinism, including women and children, persons with disabilities and the elderly,

Welcoming all the initiatives and actions taken by all countries to address and

combat all forms of violence and discrimination against 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,

Acknowledging the report of the Office of the High Commissioner 1 and its call to

strengthen international, regional and bilateral cooperation and to undertake activities

aimed at supporting measures to prevent and combat discrimination and violence against

persons with albinism and assist victims and their family members,

Acknowledging also the report of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee

on the study of the situation of human rights of persons living with albinism2 and the

recommendations therein, including to establish a special procedures mechanism,

1. Reaffirms the obligation of States to take all appropriate measures to

eliminate violence and discrimination against persons with albinism, and to promote and

protect their human rights and fundamental freedoms;

2. Decides to appoint, for a period of three years, an Independent Expert on the

enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, with the following mandate:

(a) To engage in dialogue and consult with States and other relevant

stakeholders, including United Nations agencies, programmes and funds, regional human

rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, the private sector and donors;

(b) To identify, exchange and promote good practices relating to the realization

of the rights of persons with albinism and their participation as equal members of society;

(c) To promote and report on developments towards and the challenges and

obstacles to the realization of the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism in all

regions of the world, and to make recommendations to the Human Rights Council in this

regard;

1 A/HRC/24/57.

2 A/HRC/28/75.

(d) To gather, request, receive and exchange information and communications

from and with States and other relevant sources, including persons with albinism and their

representative organizations and other civil society organizations, on violations of the rights

of persons with albinism;

(e) To conduct, facilitate and support the provision of advisory services,

technical assistance, capacity-building and international cooperation in support of national

efforts for the effective realization of the rights of persons with albinism and to prevent

violence;

(f) To raise awareness on the rights of persons with albinism and to combat

stereotypes, prejudices and harmful traditional practices and beliefs that hinder their

enjoyment of human rights and participation in society on an equal basis with others;

(g) To promote awareness of their positive contributions and to inform persons

with albinism about their rights;

(h) To report to the Human Rights Council, starting from its thirty-first session,

and to the General Assembly;

3. 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 to address the multiple, intersecting and aggravated forms of discrimination faced

by women and girls with albinism;

4. Calls upon all States to cooperate with the Independent Expert in the

discharge of the mandate, including by providing all information requested, to give serious

consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the Independent Expert to visit

their countries and to consider implementing the recommendations made in the mandate

holder’s reports;

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

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

financial resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandate.

55th meeting

26 March 2015

[Adopted without a vote.]