Search Tips
sorted by
30 shown of 257 entities
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- Although various attacks have been reported in urban areas, persons with albinism living in remote rural areas are particularly targeted. The situation is pronounced in border communities. The resource shortage faced by law enforcement in these areas, and the absence of civil society organizations to follow up on reported cases, are key intervening factors explaining this trend. Further, given that these areas are often challenged by a significant lack of access to information and education, myths about albinism and witchcraft practice tend to be more rampant there. Weak border patrol is also an issue in these areas as it facilitates cross-border trafficking of persons and body parts. In this regard, there is a crucial need for bilateral and multilateral agreements enhancing cooperation between the police of States sharing a common border to improve the investigation and prosecution of cross-border cases. This is particularly important for prosecuting more end-users of body parts since they are sometimes located in countries bordering the one where the victim was attacked.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- An analogy can be drawn from the positive correlation found between witch-hunting and poverty. In his study of the phenomenon of witch killings, Edward Miguel uses rainfall variation to estimate the impact of income shocks on murders in rural areas of the United Republic of Tanzania. He noted that rainfall extremes (drought or flood) led to an income drop, and linked that information to data on witch killings in the villages. While undesirable levels of rainfall led to a large increase in the number of murders of "witches", it had no impact on the number of other types of murder. He concluded that income drops caused by undesirable levels of rain and related economic hardship are key factors in the killings of so-called witches. A similar correlation was established in a study by Emily Oster which focused on the Renaissance period in Europe. She noted that one of the sharpest drops in temperature, which negatively impacted economic growth, coincided with the reinvigoration of witchcraft trials. Both studies highlight the link between poverty or income reduction and reliance on supernatural beliefs, including witchcraft, for explaining the misfortune.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Poverty
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- In certain countries, organizations of traditional healers have established oversight systems to control the practice of their members. This is the case in Mozambique, where oversight takes the form of voluntary registration in the association of traditional healers.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 93
- Paragraph text
- Meanwhile, strategies such as action plans designed to address witchcraft and attacks against persons with albinism should encompass a variety of measures, inter alia, to reinforce the existing legal framework, enhance the protection of persons with albinism, ensure awareness-raising and strengthen research and data collection.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 90
- Paragraph text
- Finally, campaigns should engage faith-based organizations, traditional leaders, persons with albinism and their families. They should address witchcraft and related beliefs, as well as fundamental topics involving albinism, including biological and scientific information on the genetic origins of the condition and other objective facts to debunk myths and misbeliefs surrounding the condition.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 97f
- Paragraph text
- [Accordingly, the Independent Expert recommends that Governments:] Ensure the systematic collection of disaggregated data on persons with albinism, including through birth and death registers, as well as on attacks against persons with albinism, trafficking in body parts and accusations of witchcraft.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- Attacks against persons with albinism are characterized by the hacking off of body parts. This appears to be the primary purpose of a majority of attacks. Body parts such as limbs are removed from the body and transported to alleged witchdoctors for the purpose of concocting muti or juju medicines and potions.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- The repeal of the Sorcery Act followed a nationwide consultation and review by the Constitutional Law Reform Commission. The Commission found that the law, although rarely used, contained various contradictions and inconsistencies, and was difficult to enforce. The Commission also found that the Act used ambiguous terminology. For example, it referred to the difference between "innocent" and "forbidden" sorcery, but did not clearly specify what those acts constituted. The Commission also reflected on the technical difficulty of identifying the consequences of sorcery in a court procedure and on linking sorcery to a given consequence, as it was practically impossible to provide evidence that would prove its use. Further, the Commission found that the Act focused principally on the sorcerer as the perpetrator and did not adequately address violence perpetrated against persons accused of sorcery or of being a sorcerer. The Commission also found that the existence of the Act itself could perpetuate belief in sorcery as a means of harming or killing another person. Finally, the Commission found that sorcery as such was not a matter falling under the jurisdiction of courts and tribunals, but was to be dealt with by religious and spiritual leaders. However, any violence related to witchcraft, including murders and attacks, was a criminal offence that should be treated as such by the courts and tribunals (see A/HRC/23/49/Add.2, paras. 64-66).
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 27
- Paragraph text
- Muti is a Zulu word used in southern Africa that refers to types of traditional medicine, magical charms, potions or amulets. It has also been defined as a substance fabricated from plants, animals or minerals by a person possessing expert knowledge and skill. In West Africa, the term "juju" is used to refer to a similar practice. It is sometimes believed that the muti or juju will be more effective if it contains human body parts, in particular those of persons with albinism, as these are believed to be intrinsically magical or powerful, with the ability to produce wealth and confer good luck. "Muti murder", "medicine murder" and "juju" are therefore the terms most commonly associated with ritual attacks to produce charms, potions or amulets that involve the use of human body parts. In this context, muti and juju seem to be related to witchcraft and are therefore subsumed by the term "witchcraft" in the present report. In particular, witchcraft-related beliefs, rituals and practices seem to give energy and meaning to muti and juju. Even if in some cases witchcraft-related beliefs are described as superstitions unaffiliated with any religious systems, they can be harnessed by witchcraft practitioners to the detriment of various victims, including persons with albinism.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Vision for the mandate 2016, para. 64
- Paragraph text
- In addition, the difficulty in accessing reliable data on cases of killings of and attacks against persons with albinism also hinders efforts to fight those horrendous human rights violations. Such data should include information on the number of cases registered, investigations, prosecutions and administrative and judicial decisions.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- In 2013, the Parliament of Papua New Guinea repealed the Sorcery Act (1971) in total. The Act, whose objective was "to prevent and punish evil practices of sorcery and other similar evil practices", acknowledged the existence of sorcery and criminalized its practice, including attacks against people accused of sorcery. In 2014, new legislation criminalizing killings related to sorcery was enacted.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Harmful Practices
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- In a 2011 report, HelpAge International reviewed legislation adopted to address accusations of witchcraft and related violence in nine countries and came to similar conclusions. One of the key findings of the study was the difficulty, both nationally and regionally, encountered by these countries in defining witchcraft.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- In continuation of that report, the following analysis seeks to further understanding of the broader issue of root causes by looking specifically at witchcraft. Of all identified root causes, witchcraft is one of the most challenging, owing to the complexity and the inherent barriers to the conceptualization of the phenomena. Yet addressing witchcraft remains a priority, as it is at the crux of attacks against persons with albinism.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Action plans and policies that are currently being used and developed in countries such as Malawi and Mozambique to address attacks against persons with albinism include tools for addressing the root causes of attacks, including witchcraft.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- Philip Alston has noted that reports from a surprisingly large number of countries in different regions of the world indicate that the intentional killing of individuals labelled as witches remains a significant and very troubling phenomenon; such killings are by no means a practice of the past.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Vision for the mandate 2016, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- According to information received, the erroneous beliefs and myths, including certain witchcraft practices, have led to the desecration of graves of persons with albinism. Such desecrations have been reported in at least seven countries in Africa. In the cases reported, graves of persons with albinism were open and body parts or bones were stolen.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 29
- Paragraph text
- In addition, the myths fuel the discrimination and abuse to which persons with albinism are subject at school, and this increases bullying, taunting and harassment, which in turn increases their dropout rates. High dropout rates throw them into a cycle of poverty that is hard to break. Poverty in turn predisposes them to abuse and exposes them to attack.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Education
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 47
- Paragraph text
- Today, it is highly concerning that witchcraft beliefs surrounding albinism have spread widely and that persons with albinism are often nicknamed "asset", "money", "deal" or "million" in reference to the alleged value of their body parts. Such taunts are reportedly widespread in both rural and urban environments, particularly in countries where attacks on persons with albinism are reported.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- Most potent is the belief that persons with albinism can be used in money-making rituals and for good luck charms and amulets. The crux of this belief is the notion that the body parts of persons with albinism - their skin, hair, genitals and limbs - can generate financial and other desirable gains when used for witchcraft rituals, practices and paraphernalia.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 72
- Paragraph text
- Second are the inherent limits of self-regulation, weak law enforcement and the absence of a far-reaching oversight mechanism for both urban and rural areas. Further, self-regulation by organizations of traditional healers have done little to prevent purported practitioners of traditional medicine from establishing themselves on their own, with no oversight at all. Weak enforcement of government licensing systems has also led to similar situations.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- The question of whether to criminalize acts of witchcraft was examined by Philip Alston. After considering various arguments in favour of criminalization, including that local customs should be reflected in national law; that criminal law should protect against all types of violence, including violence committed by occult means; and that the failure of criminal law to address such acts leads individuals to take the law into their own hands to achieve what is popularly considered to be a just and fair result, he concluded that the weight of the arguments against criminalization was superior. Criminalization would reinforce the social stigmatization of those accused, and such a prohibition of witchcraft might be socially perceived as providing legitimacy to the killing and ill-treatment of alleged witches. In addition, the very subjective nature of witchcraft, illustrated by the difficulty of finding a clear definition of the concept and the impossibility of identifying objective factors as evidence to be weighed in a court of law were sufficient bases on which to conclude that acts of witchcraft as such should not be criminalized. This does not mean that criminal action becomes legitimate when committed for witchcraft purposes, but rather that a licit action should not be considered a criminal act because it is conducted for witchcraft purposes. Objective criminal acts should be prosecuted, regardless of their (mere or inextricable) link to witchcraft.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert makes the following recommendations to States affected by attacks against persons with albinism:] [Reasonable accommodation for visual impairment] Provide reasonable accommodation for visual impairment as well as adequate protective measures against attacks on persons with albinism in schools and at places of work;
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 96
- Paragraph text
- Further, in addressing the issue of attacks against persons with albinism, all initiatives are best taken using a dual or twin-track approach. Such an approach would, on the one hand, urgently deal with attacks and trafficking of body parts for muti and juju; on the other hand, measures employed should go beyond the emergency of attacks, inter alia, to address root causes of attacks including, and particularly, harmful practices linked to witchcraft.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 71
- Paragraph text
- However, these efforts provide only limited control owing to several factors. First is the absence of a normative framework and legislative clarity on the difference between traditional medicine and witchcraft. This ambiguity is being abused by criminals posing as traditional healers, but also by genuine traditional healers who go beyond using herbs and animal body parts to using body parts of persons with albinism to attract a higher price for their services.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- Malawi adopted a response plan in March 2015. It includes developing an education and awareness programme; strengthening community policing structures and the allocation of adequate police forces in the districts most affected by attacks; undertaking research to understand the root causes of attacks and trafficking in body parts; expediting prosecution of attacks; providing psychosocial support to victims; and the review, amendment and enactment of legislation where necessary to ensure the protection of persons with albinism.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Vision for the mandate 2016, para. 65
- Paragraph text
- Similarly, understanding the root causes of attacks against persons with albinism is necessary in order to design strategies to address discrimination and attacks and to identify adequate prevention measures. The secrecy surrounding witchcraft practices and the underground nature of the market associated with the trafficking in body parts of persons with albinism make it difficult to find evidence. Understanding the phenomena and their implications would therefore be one of the priorities of the Independent Expert.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Violence
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- Countries with records of attacks against persons with albinism, including both countries visited this year by the Independent Expert, demonstrated the challenge of the ambiguity between the two practices. This problem has already been identified by the Independent Expert as a root cause of attacks. The issue is further complicated by the lack of effective oversight over the practice of traditional healers, the secrecy that often surrounds witchcraft practice and the absence of a clear national policy position on the issue.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, in a 2009 report (A/HRC/11/2), stated that witchcraft "has not featured prominently on the radar screen of human rights monitors" and that "this may be due partly to the difficulty of defining 'witches' and 'witchcraft' across cultures - terms that, quite apart from their connotations in popular culture, may include an array of traditional or faith healing practices that are not easily defined".
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- UNICEF extends this definition by adding that "witchcraft is a theory that explains and justifies a conception of the universe". With both conceptualizations, witchcraft could also be described as a religion or belief. In various countries affected by attacks against persons with albinism, witchcraft beliefs and practices are widespread. Adherents are found across various strata of society, transcending socioeconomic class, the urban-rural divide and levels of education.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Year
- 2017
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- This is the case, for example, in the myths that persons with albinism cannot see during the day but have excellent vision at night, that desirable minerals such as mercury and gold flow through their veins or that they float on water and cannot drown. Other myths seeking to dehumanize persons with albinism include those portraying them as cannibals or monstrous creatures in certain folktales, literature and films, or claiming that they can communicate with non-earthly or extraterrestrial beings.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Year
- 2016
- Date modified
- Sep 21, 2020
Paragraph