The Forgotten Ones: The Impact of Climate Change on the Health and Well-being of Persons with Albinism

Climate change causes profound health and human rights challenges, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable groups in society. Persons with albinism (PWA) face a range of intersecting factors that include a heightened risk of skin cancer due to the harmful effect of ultraviolet radiation, and the impact of pervasive stigma and discrimination that hinder their access to quality health services. 

This report was produced by a collective of civil society organizations supporting PWA’s in Zimbabwe in partnership with the O’Neill Institute. It highlights the myriad of human rights challenges faced by persons with albinism, focusing on the right to health, and emphasizes the need for climate-responsive, inclusive policies to protect their well-being. It also underscores the importance of sunscreen as an essential medicine for preventing skin cancer.

Read the report here.