Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 9
Paragraph
Paragraph text
Further, it is also sometimes believed that albinism can be contracted by being in contact with albinism. The same myth is extended to things that have been touched by persons with albinism. There are also beliefs that if a pregnant woman looks at a person with albinism, even unintendedly, her unborn child will be born with albinism, unless she spits to neutralize the "curse". Persons spit at the person with albinism, on the floor, inside their shirts or on their stomachs in the case of pregnant women. One mother of a child with albinism reported that she gave birth to a child with albinism for having herself stared too hard at a person with albinism while fetching water during her pregnancy.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
Document type
Special Procedures' report
Means of adoption
N.A.
Topic(s)
Harmful Practices
Person(s) affected
Children
Infants
Women
Year
2016
Paragraph type
Other
Reference
IE Albinism, Report to the UNGA (2016), A/71/255, para. 9.