A United Nations (UN) high level meeting on people with albinism in Africa to be held in Pretoria on Tuesday is a crucial opportunity to end discrimination and violence against people with albinism across the continent, Amnesty International said.
“African leaders and communities must come together and confront the root causes of the ongoing discrimination and horrific violence faced by people with albinism,” Amnesty International regional director for Southern Africa Deprose Muchena, who would also attend the meeting, said on Sunday.
“No one should be discriminated against because of their appearance. This is a chance to turn the tide for people with albinism and delegates must take concrete steps and come up with measures to promote effective and full enjoyment of the human rights of people with albinism,” Muchena said.
The meeting would be convened by the UN’s first independent expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Ikponwosa Ero.
It would bring together civil society organisations representing people with albinism from different parts of the continent who would share their experiences.
An Amnesty International report released in June 2016 exposed a wave of violent attacks against people with albinism in Malawi. Attacks had increased sharply over the past two years, with four people, including a baby, murdered in April 2016 alone.
Eighteen people were killed between November 2014 and June 2016. At least five others had been abducted and remained missing during the same period.
Killings of people with albinism were fueled by a belief that their bones brought wealth and good luck, and body parts were believed to be sold to practitioners of traditional medicine in Malawi and Mozambique for use in charms and potions, Amnesty International said.
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