A Sightsavers Equal World campaign ambassador is the inspiration behind a new Netflix film, called ‘Can You See Us?’
The film is based on the life story of John Chiti, a Zambian albinism rights campaigner, musician and police commissioner. Chiti is Sightsavers’ ambassador for the African Disability Protocol (ADP) campaign, which is part of the wider Equal World campaign that fights for disability rights.
‘Can You See Us?’ tells the story of a young boy living with albinism and the many hurdles he faces due to discrimination. Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited condition that most commonly results in a lack of melanin pigment in the hair, skin and eyes.
In Zambia and throughout Africa, people with albinism face high levels of social alienation and stigma. In many countries, including Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania, they’re also at risk of murder and mutilation, as traditions around witchcraft place a high value on their body parts. Chiti hopes the film will help raise awareness about albinism discrimination and the need for African governments to take action to enact the ADP.
The ADP is a human rights treaty that addresses forms of discrimination that particularly affect people with disabilities living in African countries, including harmful practices, beliefs and superstitions. It is the only international human rights instrument that expressly recognises the challenges faced by people with albinism.
Zambia is one of 12 countries where Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign is mobilising national partners, including organisations of people with disabilities, to call on their governments to ratify the ADP. In total, 15 ratifications are needed for the legislation to become law across the African continent, and eight countries have already taken this step.
Join our Equal World campaign to support our call for disability rights to be upheld worldwide.
You can watch the official trailer for ‘Can You See Us?’ below.
Sightsavers is at the 100% Optical conference in London on 24-26 February, to raise awareness about avoidable blindness and invite eye health professionals to help protect sight worldwide.
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded Sightsavers a grant of US$2.19 million to help fight the disease.
Sightsavers did incredible things during the year, but we couldn’t have done it without your help. Learn about our achievements, all made possible by you.
Want to hear more from Sightsavers? Join more than 170,000 supporters who receive inspiring emails about life-changing projects and ways to support our work.
You will receive regular updates about our work and can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in each newsletter, or by emailing [email protected]
For more information see our privacy policy