Geneva, 9 March, 2026.- The Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, called on States today to take robust measures to ensure greater alignment of laws and policies for the progressive enforcement of employment rights for persons with albinism.
“The right to employment is a critical lifeline for persons with albinism, who by virtue of their visual impairment and melanin deficiency, as well as stigma and discrimination against them, experience a range of barriers and challenges in the enjoyment of their rights, including additional expenses, said Miti-Drummond, presenting her latest report to the UN Human Rights Council.
“This employment rights architecture imposes an obligation on States to take measures such as promoting employment and self-employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and ensuring the provision of reasonable accommodation in the workplace.”
Miti-Drummond noted that while legal and policy provisions at the national level are encouraging and necessary, considerably more needs to be done to translate laws and policies into meaningful interventions to uplift employment opportunities for persons with albinism.
“However, in large parts of the world, including some of the most developed economies, persons with albinism face numerous barriers to securing employment or the necessary capital to create small and medium enterprises. Due to a lack of disaggregated statistical data, there are no reliable estimates of the precise employment disparities that they experience globally.
In my interactions with persons with albinism during country visits and regular consultations, many have shared with me distressing examples of attitudinal barriers encountered by them in the context of employment,” she said.
“It is essential to consider that barriers to accessing employment impact much more than the enjoyment of the right to employment. For persons with albinism especially, this severely impacts on the right to an adequate standard of living, to health, and indeed, the right to life, “ said Miti-Drummond.