GENEVA – The UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond, will visit the United States of America, including Puerto Rico, from 7 to 18 October 2024. Miti-Drummond will engage with federal and state authorities, obtain updates on legislative and policy developments and review responses to challenges faced by persons with albinism, particularly in relation to employment, housing, healthcare, and family life. The Independent Expert will also analyse the prevalence of the Heřmanský–Pudlák Syndrome (HPS) – a variation of albinism – most common in the Puerto Rico region and assess clinical research, including the development of medical products to help alleviate HPS, as well as skin and vision-related side effects of albinism. Miti-Drummond will visit Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Georgia, and Seattle. She will meet with civil society representatives, local activists, and interact with persons with albinism and HPS. The expert will also engage with albinism-specific organisations. The Independent Expert will hold a press conference on 18 October 2024 at 13:00 EST at the O"Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law School, Washington D.C. Journalists and interested persons wishing to attend the press conference are advised to contact Mr. Adi Radhakrishnan (ar1673@georgetown.edu) at the O’Neil Institute, Georgetown Law School, 500 First Street Northwest Washington, DC 20001. Miti-Drummond will present a report on her visit to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2025. The expert: Ms. Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond (Zambia) assumed her function as the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism on 1 August 2021. Independent Experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent of any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. For additional information and media requests please contact Abou Jeng (jenga@un.org) or write to hrc-ie-albinism@un.org For media enquiries regarding other UN independent experts, please contact Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org) or John Newland (john.newland@un.org) Follow news related to the UN"s independent human rights experts on X: @UN_SPExperts