African Witch Doctors Resiponsible For Abducting, Maiming And Killing Of People With Albinisim

United Nations expert calls for stronger oversight of traditional medicine in African countries, in order to limit the threat to people living with albinism.

Ikponwosa Ero, a Nigerian with albinism and internationally recognized human rights advocate, called for a two-track strategy that would address the urgent need to end attacks on light-skinned albinos and the trafficking of body parts from those with the genetically inherited condition.

Yet the recommended approach would also focus on public education aimed at dispelling myths about albinos and the associated traditional practices.

More than 600 attacks and other violations have been reported in 27 countries in recent years, although some go unreported. Albinos are targeted for the purpose of witchcraft rituals, or in medicine rituals known as muti or juju, that rely on the belief that albino body parts bring wealth, healing and good luck.

The issue is further complicated by the lack of effective oversight over the practice of traditional healers, the secrecy that often surrounds witchcraft rituals and the absence of clear national policies on the issue, said Ero, who was presenting her report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The report comes following a high-profile case in South Africa, in which the leader of a body parts trafficking ring was convicted in the death of a 20-year-old woman.

Too often, only middlemen and hired hands are arrested or prosecuted, Ero said. This sentence from the High Court of South Africa is particularly important as it condemns the man who organized and recruited persons for the crime.

Ero has served as an independent UN expert on albinism and human rights since June 2015. She also has served as an albinism advocate and legal officer with Under the Same Sun, an NGO with offices in Tanzania and Canada.

Mozambique People With Albinisim Living In Great Fear

People With Albinisim in some African countries are killed for their body parts in the mistaken belief they have miraculous powers. In Dar es Salaam, the Pan Africa Albinism Conference is campaigning for their safety and dignity.

Representatives from almost 30 African countries converged on Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for the first ever three-day Pan Africa Albinism Conference, starting on Thursday.

Albinism is a hereditary condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes.

People with albinism face discrimination. Regular attacks on albinos in Tanzania, fuelled by superstition, were described by President John Magufuli as a "national shame" during the recent election campaign.

The supersititions are numerous. Fishermen believe that their catches will be bigger if albino hair is fastened to their nets.

Miners are convinced that powdered albino bone turns into diamond when it is buried in the ground. Some believe that albino body parts are charms that bring the wearer riches.

The choice of Tanzania as the venue gives added poignancy to this conference, which the organizers say focused on empowering people with albinism.

They don't only face problems in Tanzania. So far this year at least 15 albinos have been kidnapped or killed in Mozambique. The true figure could be a lot higher, because fear prevents the victims from reporting such crimes to the authorities.

One of our members has already been burgled, said Laurinda Tembe. A People With Albinisim herself, she campaigns with a group called Àmor a Vida (Love of Life) for albino rights in Mozambique.

In one case, a two-year-old baby was saved by the police at the last moment. In another case, a mother was able to escape from kidnappers but her daughter was later found dead," she said.

Traditional Healers Claim Innocence

Traditional healers are often blamed for albino murders. But the spokesperson for Mozambican Association of Traditional Healers (AMETRAMO), Fernando Mathe, denies all knowledge of any such incidents.

He said traditional healers would not use body parts because albinos do not possess anything special that would distinguish them from the rest of us.However, he added that human traffickers misuse the name of the traditional healer for their own purposes.

Many albinos have been kidnapped or murdered in Nampula city in northern Mozambique. It lies close to the border with Tanzania where the government has already declared albinos an endangered minority.

Pedro Cossa from the Nampula police force says the threat to albinos could have come from Mozambique's neighbor but insists that these crimes are not being committed by foreign nationals. Those foreign nationals do, however, incite Mozambicans to persecute albino brothers and sons.

The climate of fear is stopping many children with albinism from attending school in Nampula. Their parents recently asked for permission to send their children to a school in Quelimane, which is some 500 kilometers (311 miles) away.

This prompted teacher and students in that city to stage a protest against the abuse of albinos. When albinos are forced to flee for safety in the own country, then we are dealing with a clear violation of human rights," said teacher Shara Ofumane. "The criminals responsible should be punished in accordance with the law.

Lack Of Public Awareness

A number of kidnappers have already been detained by the police and there have been prosecutions. The government is counting on prevention and has appointed a committee to draw up measures for the protection of people with albinism. The public prosecutor in Nampula has reinstated a commission for the combating of human trafficking.

Security along the borders between Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi is to be tightened. Public awareness campaigns about albinism - including radio commercials - are also going to be launched.