Call for Action: Human Rights Violations of Albinos in Africa, Study notes of Human Rights

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P8_TA(2016)0314 Situation of persons with albinism in Africa, notably in Malawi European Parliament resolution of 7 July 2016 on the situation of persons with albinism in Africa, notably in Malawi (2016/2807(RSP)) (2018/C 101/10) The European Parliament, — having regard to its resolution of 4 September 2008 on the killing of albinos in Tanzania (1), — having regard to the report of 18 January 2016 of the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, — having regard to the EU press release of 13 June 2015 on the International Albinism Awareness Day, — having regard to UN General Assembly Resolution 69/170 of 18 December 2014 on an International Albinism Awareness Day, — having regard to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Resolution 263 of 5 November 2013 on the prevention of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism, — having regard to UN Human Rights Council Resolution 23/13 of 13 June 2013 on attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism, — having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948, — having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, — having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, — having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, — having regard to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, — having regard to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities of 18 December 1992, — having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, — having regard to the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, — having regard to Rules 135(5) and 123(4) of its Rules of Procedure, A. whereas albinism is a congenital disorder affecting about one in 20 000 people worldwide; whereas this rate is much higher in sub-Saharan countries, with Tanzania, Malawi and Burundi having one of the highest concentrations of persons with albinism (PWA); B. whereas PWA are facing some of the most extreme forms of persecution and human rights violations, ranging from widespread societal discrimination, verbal abuse and exclusion from public services to killings, abductions, rape and mutilations; whereas human rights observers reported 448 attacks on albinos in 2015 alone across 25 African countries; whereas it is highly likely that these numbers are underestimated as the authorities do not systematically C 101/126 EN Official Journal of the European Union 16.3.2018 Thursday 7 July 2016 (1) OJ C 295 E, 4.12.2009, p. 94. monitor and document such crimes or lack the capacity and resources to conduct thorough investigations; C. whereas the biggest threat to persons with albinism in Africa comes from the widespread superstitions and misleading belief systems about their condition, including the myth that PWA have magical powers, resulting in them being regularly killed by criminal gangs and traffickers for their body parts, which are believed to bring luck, health and fortune; whereas, in several countries, the graves of PWA have been opened and body parts or bones stolen; D. whereas, in Malawi, where an estimated 10 000 people live with albinism, the police have reported 69 attacks since November 2014, of which 18 were murders; whereas four people were killed in April 2016, including a two-year-old baby, leading the authorities to declare PWA an ‘endangered species’; E. whereas the President of Malawi, Peter Mutharika, has publicly condemned the recent spate of attacks; F. whereas, in addition to Malawi, attacks against PWA have been reported in several other east-African countries, notably in Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and Mozambique; G. whereas women and children with albinism are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion; whereas albino women are often the target of sexual violence, owing to the widespread belief that sexual intercourse with a woman with albinism can cure HIV/AIDS, and whereas women who give birth to albino babies are rejected and discriminated against at work; whereas children represent a large proportion of the victims of ritual attacks and face a high risk of abandonment; whereas the fear of attacks has resulted in school-age children not being able to enjoy their right to education; H. whereas the Tanzanian Government has engaged in serious and tangible action to tackle witchcraft in the country, including the suspension of traditional healers’ licences and numerous arrests of witchdoctors; whereas the Tanzanian President appointed the first member of parliament with albinism in 2008, and the first albino deputy minister in December 2015; I. whereas, despite increasing international visibility and the adoption of new legislation in the countries affected, prosecutions and convictions remain very few in number and crimes and torture continue to be committed with total impunity in many African countries; J. whereas on 1 March 2016 in Southern Malawi, an angry mob lynched and set on fire seven alleged ‘albino hunters’; whereas Malawi’s Inspector General of Police ordered his officers to shoot to kill anyone caught abducting PWA; K. whereas discrimination, harassment and stigmatisation of PWA has caused hundreds of people to flee and seek refuge in temporary shelters; whereas this situation has caused greater precariousness and insecurity for PWA, limiting their access to basic services such as healthcare and education, their employment opportunities and their participation in society; L. whereas this discrimination can lead to life-long trauma and psycho-social problems and causes great apprehension and fear among the albino community; whereas PWA normally have more difficulties in accessing appropriate medical care, including preventive medication for skin cancer; M. whereas, in March 2015, the UN appointed its first independent expert on the human rights of persons with albinism and officially declared 13 June International Albinism Awareness Day; N. whereas in June 2016 the UN sponsored the first-ever regional forum for Action on Albinism in Africa, which laid down a roadmap of specific, simple and effective measures to combat human rights abuses against PWA; 16.3.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 101/127 Thursday 7 July 2016