“I Just Want to Work Without Fear”

Discrimination and Violations of the Right to Work for Persons with Albinism in Malawi

Lazarus K., 38, in Dowa. “I’m worried about abductions [of persons with albinism] but the situation is better. People without albinism still look down on us and many believe that persons with albinism are expendable and inferior. We are not involved or invited to community processes.” © 2025 Samer Muscati/Human Rights Watch

In Malawi, an estimated 134,636 people—approximately 0.8 percent of the population—have albinism, although stigma and underreporting likely mean the true number is higher. Albinism, a genetic condition characterized by reduced or absent melanin, commonly results in low vision and extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. Across sub-Saharan Africa, people with albinism are estimated to be up to 1,000 times more likely to develop skin cancer than the general population.

Read more on the original article : https://www.hrw.org/report/2026/06/12/i-just-want-to-work-without-fear/discrimination-and-violations-of-the-right-to