Human Rights Council

Forty- sixth session

22 February–24 March 2021

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 on 23 March 2021

4 6 / 12. Mandate of 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,

Reaffirmingthat everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person and that no one shall be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,

Recallingthe universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights 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 the Code of Conduct for Special Procedure Mandate Holders of the Human Rights 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,

Recalling furtherthe Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and recalling also the rights of everyone to the enjoyment of 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 continue to be perpetuated against persons with albinism, in particular women and children, persons with disabilities and the elderly,

Welcomingall the initiatives and actions taken by all States to address and combat all forms of violence and discrimination against persons with albinism,

Welcoming also in this regard the ongoing work of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism to address harmful practices relating to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks 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, and calling upon States to reach the furthest behind first, including 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, to bring to justice those responsible and to ensure that victims and family members have access to appropriate remedies,

Welcoming the consultations conducted by the Independent Expert with relevant stakeholders in various regions, including Africa, culminating in the development of a regional action plan to end violations against persons with albinism,

Welcoming also the recent work and achievements of the Independent Expert in preparing analytical studies and holding discussions on harmful practices relating to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks as a particular risk to persons with albinism in some countries and as one of the root causes of attacks perpetrated against them,

Recallingall 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, in which she addresses, in particular, attacks and human rights violations in countries where certain harmful practices, including those relating to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, have served as one of the root causes of attacks, and in this regard recalls the adoption of the Regional Action Plan on Albinism in Africa (2017–2021) as a continent-wide policy in Africa;

3.Decides toextend 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 and aggravated forms of discrimination faced by women and girls with albinism;

5.Calls upon all States to cooperate fully with the Independent Expert in the discharge of the mandate and to give serious consideration to responding favourably to her requests to visit their countries and to consider implementing 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-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.Requeststhe 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.Decidesto continue consideration of this issue in accordance with its annual programme of work.

49th meeting 23 March 2021

[Adopted without a vote.]