A/HRC/37/57
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
20 December 2017
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-seventh session
26 February–23 March 2018
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of
human rights by persons with albinism
Note by the Secretariat
The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of
the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
pursuant to Council resolution 28/6. In her report, the Independent Expert explores matters
concerning the enjoyment of the right to the highest attainable standard of health by persons
with albinism. On the basis of information gathered from surveys, reports and country
visits, she conceptualizes the multifaceted challenges in the field of health, including
disabilities arising from visual impairment and the high number of fatalities caused by skin
cancer in certain regions, the applicable norms and standards in international human rights
law, the continuing challenges and best practices. In so doing, she discusses contextual
factors, as well as exogenous elements, including health determinants. She highlights the
important work being carried out by civil society and makes several recommendations
centred on the call for more government ownership and initiative in this area.
GE.17-22923(E)