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Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 84
- Paragraph text
- The Independent Expert also recommends that affected States and civil society, in close cooperation, systematically gather data and information on attacks against persons with albinism and conduct relevant studies with emphasis on trends and forms of attack, cases of discrimination and root causes, since data and research on this topic remain relatively scarce.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 91
- Paragraph text
- Witchcraft practice, in particular the use of body parts of persons with albinism for muti or juju, is undeniably one of the main root causes of attacks against persons with albinism. However, owing to challenges in conceptualizing "witchcraft" using objective elements, attempts at establishing clear legal boundaries around such practices - including to deter related harmful practices - have been elusive. One key exception is witchcraft accusations, an aspect of witchcraft practice that can be, and has been, legally captured with objective elements because there is no need to define "witchcraft" itself to achieve the purpose of preventing accusations and related violence.
- 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
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
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:] [Legal action] Consider issuing practice directives and guidelines to complement and clarify existing laws and to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of cases of attack, particularly if the existing legislation needs to be reviewed to address the complexity 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)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
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
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
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:] [Cross-border crime] Strengthen cross-border police cooperation through bilateral and multilateral agreements to better tackle trafficking in persons and body parts.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 98a
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert recommends that Governments, together with civil society and academia:] Conduct in-depth research on root causes of attacks against persons with albinism, including on harmful practices related 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
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 97b
- Paragraph text
- [Accordingly, the Independent Expert recommends that Governments:] Develop, adopt and implement action plans or strategies addressing, from a multisectoral approach, harmful practices linked to witchcraft and their impact on all victims, including persons with albinism, in consultation with civil society;
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 97d
- Paragraph text
- [Accordingly, the Independent Expert recommends that Governments:] Review and adapt legal frameworks as needed to ensure that they encompass all aspects of attacks against persons with albinism, including with regard to trafficking of body parts;
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
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
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
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:] [Legal action] Designate, if necessary, law enforcement officials and prosecutors dedicated to cases of attack against persons with albinism, to improve accountability and reduce impunity.
- 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
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 97e
- Paragraph text
- [Accordingly, the Independent Expert recommends that Governments:] Ensure prompt investigation and prosecution of cases of attacks against persons with albinism as well as trafficking of body parts for muti or juju;
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
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
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 99b (i)
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert recommends that the international community:] Continue to work to: Clarify the international human rights framework that is particularly relevant to trafficking in body parts;
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Conclusion / Recommendation
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 61
- Paragraph text
- Fear of attacks has also worsened the economic situation of persons with albinism who are not able to cultivate their land, go to the marketplace or initiate economic activity in freedom. The same can be said of parents of children with albinism, who often have to curtail their economic activity to accommodate the need to watch over their children day and night and to escort them to and from school. This strain on family economics increases the likelihood that a child with albinism will be viewed as a burden or curse on the family. This in turn increases the child`s vulnerability to attacks initiated or facilitated by family members.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Families
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- Aside from by a small, though growing, number of civil society organizations, insufficient attention is being paid to research and documentation of cases of attack and discrimination against persons with albinism. This paucity can be attributed in part to the fact that the human rights issues faced by persons with albinism have come to the attention of States and the international community only recently. While the primary duty of documenting crimes and ensuring justice for victims belongs to the State, the indispensable supplementary work of civil society in this regard remains crucial. However, a majority of non-governmental organizations focusing on the issue are relatively new, continue to face resource shortages and are still developing their capacity to carry out research and robustly engage with relevant national, regional and international mechanisms.
- 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
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 49
- Paragraph text
- Civil society reports nearly 500 cases of attacks against persons with albinism across 26 countries. They include various forms of attack, including physical assault, murder and sexual violence tied to witchcraft beliefs and practices. In relation to the relatively small numbers of persons with albinism, usually in the single digits of thousands to tens of thousands per country, this number of cases is highly concerning. Moreover, these are reported cases alone. Civil society activists on the issue believe far more cases go unreported owing to family collusion and the secrecy surrounding witchcraft practices.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, in her 2013 report to the General Assembly (A/68/256), stated that the difference between trafficking in organs and trafficking in persons for the removal of organs was largely semantic, given that organs were not moved or traded independently of their source, because the victim was moved or positioned in such a way as to make transplantation possible. However, the hypothesis regarding attacks against persons with albinism suggests a different context. Here the purpose is not the transplantation of a functional organ, but the collection of a body part for muti or juju. Although some cases of trafficking of persons with albinism have been reported, in the majority of the cases, the victims are attacked in their homes or while carrying out their ordinary activities, and their body parts hacked off their living or dead bodies at the place of the attack, or close by. In such cases, it cannot be considered that the victims are trafficked, yet their body parts are being harvested, transported and sold.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Health
- Movement
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Women
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- The insecurity of persons with albinism is directly affected by their poor living conditions. Some abductions and attacks have reportedly occurred in houses that do not have the most basic security features, including windows, wooden doors or locks. Most families living in such conditions do not have access to a phone line to call for help and do not have any means of transportation to rush persons who have been attacked to the closest medical facilities.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Other
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
- Paragraph type
- Other
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
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Vision for the mandate 2016, para. 45c
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert intends to identify and consolidate the measures to end and prevent attacks to persons with albinism in consultation with States, civil society, international and regional bodies and agencies as well as other stakeholders. The specific measures identified will be based on those already identified, particularly those adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, namely:] Prosecution of perpetrators 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)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 17
- Paragraph text
- There is also the myth that intercourse with female persons with albinism can cure infertility, sexually transmitted infections and, in particular, HIV/AIDS. This has led to the rape and forced prostitution of women and girls with albinism, some of whom end up contracting various infections. Cases have been reported of young girls with albinism being prostituted by their family to customers who thereby expect to be cured of HIV/AIDS. It is believed that cases of this sort are underreported owing to various factors, including a pre-existing context of myth-led discrimination against persons with albinism, the stigma of reporting rape and the likelihood of further abuse. Such lack of reporting is bound to aggravate the already oppressed and disenfranchised situation of women and girls with albinism.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Girls
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2016
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 43
- Paragraph text
- A witness reported: "witchdoctors told me that they kill persons with albinism and use their organs to make magic potions for their clients who want to become rich and successful". Similarly, a witchdoctor admitted to the use of bones of persons with albinism after being instructed by his ancestors, stating that "good witchcraft is when one uses organs of a dead person with albinism" while "bad witchcraft is when one kills a person with albinism for their body parts". In another interview, a witchdoctor explained that "from their hair to their bones, albinos are sought after. When we hear that an albino has died somewhere, we try to find out where he has been buried in order to recover some parts which are really important to help us … we even kill albinos because we need certain parts of their bodies". In addition to attacks against persons with albinism, such witchcraft beliefs have often led to the desecration of their graves.
- 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
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Vision for the mandate 2016, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- It has been widely reported and documented that persons with albinism are hunted and physically attacked due to prevailing myths such as the misbelief that their body parts, when used in witchcraft rituals and potions or amulets, will induce wealth, good luck and political success. Other dangerous myths that facilitate the perpetration of attacks are those linked to perceptions of their appearance, including misbeliefs and myths that persons with albinism are not human beings, but ghosts, that they are subhuman and that they do not die, but disappear. An increase of those attacks, referred to as "ritual attacks", has been reported by civil society during periods of political elections.
- 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
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- Evans-Pritchard distinguishes between "witchcraft" and "sorcery". According to his definition, witches have supernatural powers and operate in secret, in order to harm victims by devouring their life essence. In contrast, a sorcerer is someone who does harm by using plant substances and rituals. The use of body parts of persons with albinism in amulets, charms, potions or other preparations could arguably fall under either category. Therefore, in the present report, the Independent Expert will use the term "witchcraft" to denote both concepts. She will not use the term "magic", which has been employed in some cases to describe attacks against persons with albinism, because it seems to have a dual quality of both benevolence and malevolence, and may therefore be misunderstood. Since the report intends to capture witchcraft in the broader sense and its negative impact on persons with albinism, the term "magic" - in its malevolent form - will be understood to be subsumed by the term "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
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- In the report of her mission to Papua New Guinea (A/HRC/23/49/Add.2), the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences stated that she had witnessed brutal assaults perpetrated against suspected sorcerers, which in many cases included torture, rape, mutilation and murder. Similarly, in the report of her mission to India (A/HRC/26/38/Add.1), she explained that the stigma attached to women who were labelled "witches" and the rejection they experienced within their communities led not only to various human rights violations but constituted an obstacle to gaining access to justice. She also noted that such labelling affected family members across generations. Further, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in the report of his mission to Ghana (A/HRC/25/60/Add.1), invited special procedure mandate holders to follow up on practices in "witch camps" where, it was reported, women - particularly elderly women - were banished once they had been labelled as witches.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Families
- Women
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- In its study on children accused of witchcraft, UNICEF reported that, in many African societies, births considered "abnormal" were generally surrounded by a complex system of representations and rituals. Such births included twins, "badly born" children and persons with albinism. Cases have been reported of parents killing their babies born with albinism for being witches. Where these children are not killed at birth, they are often taken to a spiritual leader or traditional healer to be "healed" through various forms of violent exorcism. Similarly, in a report published by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children in 2012, it is stressed that vulnerable children such as children with disabilities, children with albinism, premature babies or specially gifted children are often the target of witchcraft accusations. The link between witchcraft and persons with albinism was also noted in western Sudan where persons with albinism were accused of taking part in "strange and dangerous practices" related 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
- Person(s) affected
- Children
- Infants
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- In the absence of specific legislation covering trafficking of body parts, some States have been confronted with a legal gap when they arrest persons for trafficking body parts of persons with albinism such as bones, hair and limbs. In response to this situation, in Malawi for example, the judiciary has made creative use of the Anatomy Act, which was not drafted with the horrendous crimes perpetrated against persons with albinism in mind. The Act, which was drafted for a medical context, carries relatively light penalties but was, until recent reforms, the only instrument available to prosecute cases of possession of body parts of persons with albinism.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Violence
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Witchcraft and the human rights of persons with albinism 2017, para. 83
- Paragraph text
- In addition to the problem of the legal gap, it is particularly difficult to establish that any body parts found are linked to an attack, given that such crimes are often not reported and the limited technical and financial means of law enforcement, particularly in the area of forensics, as well as the time and distance between the place where the alleged attack occurred and the place where the body parts were found. As a result, barring clear evidence that the body part was obtained from an attack or a graveyard robbery, affected States have resorted to laws that address mere illicit possession of body parts that, however, tend to carry penalties perceived to be too weak and fail to encompass the overall context of the crimes.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2017
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 67
- Paragraph text
- Information has been received that killings are known to peak during election times as demand for magical potions by politicians seeking election or re-election goes up. Civil society reported that, prior to several elections in the African region, the number of reported attacks increased in various countries. Internal conflicts or political tensions also provide a framework of uncertainty conducive to reliance on supernatural beliefs and witchcraft practices.
- 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
- Paragraph type
- Other
Paragraph