ERI has leant its support to a written submission by Franciscans International (FI) to the Human Rights Council on the plight of albino children in Tanzania.
Albinism is a genetic disorder characterized by lack of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes.
Albinos make up about one in 4,000 people in South Africa and perhaps one in 5,000 in Nigeria. Accurate data is unavailable for Tanzania but it is estimated to be one in 1,400, suggesting an albino community of about 30,000, however the Albino Association of Tanzania believes the total figure could be more than 150,000.
In recent years, people with albinism have been subjected to atrocious levels of violence and killed due to a witchcraft belief that their body parts bring wealth and success to those who consume them. While it is difficult to estimate the magnitude of this phenomenon, it is clear that children are increasingly becoming targets of such violent acts.
Children with albinism are continuously suffering from abuse and exploitation which in most cases end in fatality. They are often rejected by their families and communities who consider them as a “curse”, and they are subjected to extreme discrimination and stigmatization.
Undoubtedly, the murder and mutilation of albino children constitutes a major violation of fundamental human rights. While the Government of Tanzania has highlighted its progress and commitment to addressing the situation of albino people in terms of prosecution and prevention, ERI shares the deep concern of FI about the protection of innocent victims. It believes that there is an urgent need to take immediate action at international, regional, and national levels towards the protection of this vulnerable group of children and the eradication of the practice.