The Mozambican government estimates that around 30,000 people in the country live with albinism, stating that it remains “committed” to promoting their rights, as they continue to be victims of discrimination, superstition, and organ trafficking.
“The Government of Mozambique remains committed to the promotion, protection, and effective realisation of the rights of people with albinism,” said the Secretary of State for Gender and Social Action, Abdul Razak Amuzá Esmail, speaking in Maputo on Saturday, June 13, during the ceremony marking the International Albinism Awareness Day.
The event was preceded by a march through the Mozambican capital, during which dozens of participants called for the defence of the rights of people with albinism. The government estimates that between 20,000 and 30,000 Mozambicans live with this condition and continue to face discrimination, exclusion, and violations of fundamental rights, often driven by superstition and frequently targeted for organ trafficking.
Razak Amuzá Esmail acknowledged that these attacks, persecutions, and even killings — part of years of “silent violence” — led the government to approve a Multisectoral Action Plan to address issues affecting people with albinism and ensure their protection. The plan includes concrete measures for prevention, protection, and response to human rights violations, including legislative changes.
“These instruments strengthen the protection of the rights of people with disabilities, including people with albinism,” the official said.
Mozambican associations defending the rights of people with albinism have called for the exemption of customs duties on imported sunscreen and for its classification as a medicine, in order to reduce costs and prevent cases of skin cancer.
“It is important that, as a government and as a country, we create conditions to remove all barriers and ensure that people with albinism have access to sunscreen,” said Milton Mujovo, president of the Association Amor à Vida, during Albinism Awareness Week.
Despite Mozambican legislation providing mechanisms to protect the rights of people with disabilities, he added, sunscreen is still treated in practice as a cosmetic product rather than a medicine. This keeps import and retail costs high and limits access for thousands of people with albinism.
Mujovo explained that sunscreen is essential for survival, as it acts as a barrier against ultraviolet rays, reducing the risk of burns, skin damage, and skin cancer. Without adequate protection, he warned, the consequences can become severe or even fatal.
He added that an appropriate sunscreen costs on average around 3,000 meticais (EUR 41), and that people with albinism require regular supplies throughout the month, making it an unaffordable expense for many families. He therefore argued that sunscreen should be included in the national list of essential medicines and made available through the National Health System.
According to the Association Amor à Vida, the World Health Organization (WHO) reinstated sunscreen on its list of essential medicines in 2025, reinforcing the need for Mozambique to align its fiscal and public health policies to better protect people with albinism.
Source: Diário Económico
