Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (Apam) President, Bonface Massah has asked government to institute a commission of inquiry that will ensure that all reports of crimes against people with albinism are revisited.
Speaking on Monday at Kasungu Community Centre Ground during commemoration of International Albinism Awareness Day (Iaad), Massah said the commission of inquiry will also make certain that the reports are thoroughly, impartially, independently and transparently investigated and suspected perpetrators brought to justice.
“In the petition which we presented to Parliament recently we asked government to set up a commission of enquiry into the violence and discrimination against people with albinism, we believe that would be a timely interventions to remove deep-rooted beliefs on people with albinism but we are surprised that the commission of inquiry is not there yet,” he said.
He called on government to amend weak laws and put strict measures so that people with albinism are accorded their rights and dignity in their respective places of residence.
“All children with albinism cannot be taken to State House for security but we ask police to do more to ensure that people with albinism are not victimised for what they are,” he said.
Massah also said government should provide necessary resources to victims of this vulnerable group, whom he said lack psychosocial support, hence stay with stigma for so long.
Addressing the gathering, President Peter Mutharika, in what sounded like a response to the recent Amnesty International (AI) report, highlighted a litany of measures government has put in place to safeguard the rights of life and security of person of people with albinism in the country.
“Violence and widespread societal discrimination against people with albinism has brought shame on the country, it is demeaning, degrading and that darkest sinful moment the country is passing through,” Mutharika said.
The President said government has adopted specific measures to protect and preserve the rights to life and security of person of people with albinism in the country, including providing visible policing, especially in rural areas, appointing a special legal counsel to assist with investigations and identifying a team to work with authorities from Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya on how the three countries managed to reduce crimes against people with albinism.
“But I know one misguided person working for a certain misguided newspaper will write that this is not a solution. I am saying going to these countries is not the only solution government has come up with as there are many interventions we have considered,” he said.
Mutharika warned that stiff sentences will be meted out once perpetrator of violence discrimination against people with albinism are caught and brought to justice.
In a statement recently, AI said a surge killings of people with albinism, whose body parts are used in ritual practices, has, among others, exposed a systematic failure of policing in the country and left this vulnerable group living in fear.
UN Representative in Malawi, Mia Seppo, said government should prioritise resourcing people with albinism so that they enjoy their full economic, social, cultural rights including the rights to health and education.
She asked chiefs to assist other stakeholders in dispelling rumours that body parts of people with albinism have special powers.
Malawi has experienced a sharp increase in human rights abuses against people with albinism including abductions, killings and grave robberies by individuals and criminal gangs since November 2014.
At least 18 people were killed five abducted and are still missing.
Iaad is commemorated annually on 13 June and aims to raise awareness about people living with albinism.
The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted are solution in 2013 calling for the prevention of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism
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