A/78/167 51. The conditions brought about by specific climate-related impacts, such as extreme weather events, increase the risk that persons with albinism will be subject to stigma, discrimination and violence. Disasters precipitate resource scarcity and are thought to exacerbate disability-related stigma and discrimination. 64 At the same time, conditions after disasters are less secure and lead to an elevated risk of persons with albinism being attacked. A submission received by the Expert, from Malawi, contained reports that persons with albinism who had been housed in temporary displacement camps in the aftermath of Cyclone Freddy, in March 2023, reported an increased sense of vulnerability to attack and threat to their security. 52. Extreme weather events magnify pre-existing inequalities and have been linked to increased rates of violence against women. 65 Women and girls with albinism experience high rates of violence and abuse, meaning that their vulnerability to violence is elevated further still in disaster situations. 66 According to a submission received by the Expert, other changes brought on by climate change, such as less secure working practices (e.g. longer distances to travel to collect clean water), may also exacerbate existing risks of violence and abuse for women and girls with albinism. Additional intersecting identities, such as race, colour, gender identity, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation, further increase the vulnerability that individual women and girls with albinism have to violence in disaster situations and in response to climate impacts, more generally. 53. The Expert has previously highlighted, in conjunction with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the fact that cyclones and drought in Madagascar are fuelling attacks on persons with albinism owing to dangerous mythical beliefs that rituals involving their body parts will bring good fortune. 67 Attacks on persons with albinism, who are blamed for famine and drought, have also been identified in the United Republic of Tanzania. 68 In addition, according to information received by the Expert, persons with albinism are not allowed in some communities, in Ghana, because their presence is thought to stop the rain from falling. Thus, if a child with albinism is born in such a community, he or she may be killed to ensure that the rainfall is not impeded. The communities also believe that the ritual sacrifice of body parts of persons with albinism will lead to better harvests. Globally, further research and data is needed to understand the extent to which persons with albinism experience stigma, discrimination and violence owing to climate change. VII. Inclusion in climate action 54. States must engage in climate action to ensure a comprehensive global response to climate change, including action focused on climate change adaptation. Climate change adaptation refers to strategies and measures taken to minimize the negative impacts of climate change and is key to ensuring that societies are climate-resilient. In the context __________________ 64 65 66 67 68 16/23 Mark Priestley Laura Hemingway, “Disability and disaster recovery: a tale of two cities?”, Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, vol. 5, Nos. 3 and 4 (2007), pp. 23–42. Alyssa M. Thurston, Heidi Stöckl and Meghna Ranganathan, “Natural hazards, disasters and violence against women and girls: a global mixed-methods systematic review”, BMJ Global Health, vol. 6, No. 4 (April 2021). Ikponwosa Ero and others, People with Albinism Worldwide. OHCHR, “Madagascar: UN experts urge protection for people with albinism amid attacks”, press release, 28 February 2022. Available at www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/02/madagascarun-experts-urge-protection-people-albinism-amid-attacks. Mohamed Daghar, “Buried alive: Tanzania’s albinos pay the price for superstition”, ENACT, 17 March 2022. Available at https://enactafrica.org/enact-observer/buried-alive-tanzaniasalbinos-pay-the-price-for-superstition. 23-13701