18 Jul 2017

The Albinism Society of Botswana has called on government to strive to address challenges faced by people living with albinism.

In a petition presented by Gaborone South MP, Mr Kagiso Molatlhegi in Parliament , the society called on government to, among others, ratify the United Nations (UN) Convention of the Rights of People Living with Disabilities.

Mr Molatlhegi, who is also the deputy speaker of the national assembly, said it was important that government aligns health, education and employment policies with the Convention on the Rights of People Living with Disabilities and that of the Rights of the Child so as to protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities.

He said it was also the society’s call that government enact empowerment laws that grant persons with disabilities certain privileges consistent with their levels of disability.

Mr Molatlhegi further said one of the society’s requests was that government should adopt a disability policy during the current session of Parliament.

The deputy speaker said the petition was handed to him on International Albinism Awareness Day this year, and that the society seeks, through the same petition, to sensitise and remind government of its constitutional obligation to protect all its citizens, including those living with albinism.

“The aim of the International Albinism Awareness Day is to raise awareness on the challenges faced by persons living with albinism as well as to voice against all forms of discrimination, dehumanisation and stigmatisation associated with the condition,” he said.

He added that the majority of people living with albinism were relatively poor and isolated from mainstream community activities, explaining further that elements of stigmatisation and discrimination continue to contribute to the withdrawal syndrome and vulnerability to social discrimination of people living with albinism.

Mr Molatlhegi said the delay in domesticating the UN Convention of the Rights of People Living with Disabilities hinders people living with albinism from enjoying their rights and fundamental freedoms.

He said there was need to hasten the domestication of the conventions so as to further entrench disability rights.

The petition was signed by 58 members of the Albinism Society of Botswana, who emphasised that people with albinism had always suffered in Botswana as their condition was not recognised as a disability.

They said the situation was worsened by the failure by government to domesticate the UN Convention of the Rights of People Living with Disabilities.

The petition said because Botswana served people living with disability through policies which do not constitute Acts of Parliament, such policies could not be enforced in courts of law to meet the legal expectations of people living with disabilities.

“While we acknowledge that significant strides have been made to address the needs of persons with disabilities, a lot more needs to be done.

Having a legislation specific to people with disabilities in place will be a good starting point,” the society states in the document, emphasising the need to have a piece of legislation tailored towards finding a solution to issues as the right to dignity and self-worth, as well as equal and inalienable rights.  ENDS