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Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- Beliefs that attribute supernatural qualities to persons with albinism serve only to dehumanize them. Such beliefs deify or demonize persons with albinism, and present as natural the exclusion, stigma and discrimination they face. This is the case, for example, in the widespread myth that persons with albinism do not die, but simply disappear. This myth is particularly disturbing because it justifies any sudden and inexplicable disappearance of a person with albinism from his or her community. This belief poses a strong risk to persons with albinism by proactively providing an acceptable explanation to the community for the disappearance of a person with albinism after an attack. Further, the existence of such a myth supports the hypothesis that violations of the life and security of persons with albinism predate the contemporary attention given to the issue.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Harmful Practices
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- There are rare cases where persons with albinism are deified or viewed as having godlike qualities. For example, the Guna people in Latin America give a special place to persons with albinism as protectors. Tales of persons with albinism being considered as water deities or as natural chiefs have also been reported. While deification and positive supernaturalization of persons with albinism may appear to be desirable, this is not an ideal state because the person with albinism is still the subject of myths unfounded on fact or science. Consequently, their dignity remains grounded in subjective narratives and not in their objective status as human beings.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 40
- Paragraph text
- Similarly, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief stated in the report of his mission to Sierra Leone (A/HRC/25/58/Add.1) that freedom of religion or belief, while allowing for legally defined limitations to protect the rights and freedoms of others, must be broadly understood. Witchcraft-related beliefs, whether in their ancient or modern form, are protected under the freedom of belief, as are actions related to such beliefs, as long as they do not violate the rights of others. However, he also stressed that "the serious harm inflicted on persons accused of witchcraft can never be justified", and that "if someone were to invoke the right to freedom of religion or belief in order to support harmful practices, such as the persecution and punishment of alleged witches, this would be a clear case for limiting the application of freedom of religion or belief". The same reasoning applies to other harmful practices, including attacks against persons with albinism: harmful practices can never be justified.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2017
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 28
- Paragraph text
- Similarly, myths contribute to minimizing the social impact of attacks against persons with albinism and justify their disappearance. In this regard, the testimony of a digger is telling as he explains that myths are used to "deceive people because the waganga [witchdoctors/traditional healers] believe that the zeruzeru [a pejorative term for a person with albinism] aren't missed in the community. They believe that they are not useful people and if they die they are not lost".
- 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
- Violence
- Year
- 2016
- Date added
- Aug 19, 2019
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 added
- Aug 19, 2019
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 added
- Aug 19, 2019
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 added
- Aug 19, 2019
Paragraph
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