Harmful Practices and Children with Disabilities

All around the world, there is a growing recognition that certain traditional practices that have been handed down from generation to generation are in fact harmful to children. Even though these traditional practices continue to have great cultural significance, more and more people are convinced that this does not outweigh the risks posed to the children. While progress in protecting children from harmful practices is gradual and at times slow, it is undeniable that there is progress and that the momentum is growing. However, unfortunately, in many cases what people consider harmful practices is confined to a very specific list.

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International Albinism Awareness Day

Albinism – being ‘an albino’ – is a condition where a person’s body does not produce any pigmentation. This leads to white hair, a very pale (or pink, because you can see the blood vessels through it) skin and eyes that are blue, but in such a pale way that the redness of the back of the eye shines through it.

Pigmentation is important to protect the skin and the eyes from UV radiation. Without this protection a person is far more likely to develop skin cancer. The eyes have very low tolerance for bright light and may have other problems with vision. This in itself deserves awareness raising. However, unfortunately there are greater problems attached to Albinism in certain parts of the world.

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