About International Albinism Awareness Day
International Albinism Awareness Day is celebrated annually on June 13th to celebrate the human rights of persons with albinism worldwide.
On December 18th 2014, the United Nations’ General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing June 13th as International Albinism Awareness Day.
Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited difference present at birth. In almost all types of albinism, both parents must carry the gene for it to be passed on, even if they do not have albinism themselves. The condition is found in both sexes regardless of ethnicity and in all countries of the world. Albinism results in a lack of pigmentation (melanin) in the hair, skin and eyes, causing vulnerability to the sun and bright light. As a result, almost all people with albinism are visually impaired and are prone to developing skin cancer. There is no cure for the absence of melanin that is central to albinism.
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