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Female circumcision 1990, para. 6
- Paragraph text
- Noting with grave concern that there are continuing cultural, traditional and economic pressures which help to perpetuate harmful practices, such as female circumcision,
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 1990
Paragraph
Harmful practices (joint General Recommendation with CEDAW) 2014, para. 55g
- Paragraph text
- [The Committees recommend that the States parties to the Conventions adopt or amend legislation with a view to effectively addressing and eliminating harmful practices. In doing so, they should ensure:] That a legal requirement of marriage registration is established and effective implementation is provided through awareness-raising, education and the existence of adequate infrastructure to make registration accessible to all persons within their jurisdiction;
- Body
- Committee on the Rights of the Child
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Harmful practices (joint General Recommendation with CRC) 2014, para. 55g
- Paragraph text
- [The Committees recommend that the States parties to the Conventions adopt or amend legislation with a view to effectively addressing and eliminating harmful practices. In doing so, they should ensure:] That a legal requirement of marriage registration is established and effective implementation is provided through awareness-raising, education and the existence of adequate infrastructure to make registration accessible to all persons within their jurisdiction;
- Body
- Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- Document type
- General Comment / Recommendation
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Year
- 2014
Paragraph
Mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism (2018), para. 16
- Original document
- Paragraph text
- Welcoming also the recent work of the Independent Expert in preparing analytical studies and holding discussions on harmful practices relating to witchcraft as a particular risk to persons with albinism in some countries and as one of the root causes of attacks perpetrated against them,
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Violence
Paragraph
Minorities and discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status 2016, para. 36
- Paragraph text
- In Japan, feudal society stratification during the Tokunaga regime (1603-1867) placed two groups at the bottom of the system, referring to them as the senmin (humble people): the eta (extreme filth) and hinin (non-human). Although the Emancipation Edict was promulgated in 1871 to include the senmin in mainstream society, the Burakumin, as their descendants are now known, continue to be considered as an outcast group, subjected to prejudice and discrimination, including in employment, education and marriage, and physically segregated in Buraku districts. Official figures estimate the total Buraku population to be 1.2 million; however, unofficial figures place the number at almost 3 million.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on minority issues
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2016
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
Paragraph
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
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
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- The Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network stresses that there is no universally accepted definition of witchcraft and the term means different things to different people in different places. Primarily witchcraft can be seen as a negative, malevolent force which is used by people in the spirit realm to bring about harm in the physical realm. In 1974, Marc Augé defined witchcraft as "a set of beliefs, structured and shared by a given population, that addresses the origin of misfortune, illness and death, and a set of practices for detection, treatment and punishment that corresponds to these beliefs".
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 39
- Paragraph text
- The vast majority of attacks against persons with albinism have been carried out in order to harvest body parts. There are beliefs that drinking the blood of persons with albinism gives extra magical power or that it has magical properties and brings prosperity and good luck. Fingers of persons with albinism are reportedly worn as necklaces and amulets. Bones of persons with albinism are used to successfully mine for gold and other desirable minerals. Hands of persons with albinism are burned to ashes and mixed in a paste to cure strokes; blood of persons with albinism is used to boost vitality and intellectual capacity, as well as for political power and business. Hair has been touted as useful for agriculture. Genitals, breasts and placentas are used to cure infertility and create good luck.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- Further witchcraft beliefs are that placing the skull of a person with albinism in the foundation of a new building will bring luck to the building, that burying body parts in key places on a farm ensures big harvests and that inserting the hand of a person with albinism into the entrances of shops encourages customers to come. It was also reported that fishermen weave hair of persons with albinism into their nets or use the skin of persons with albinism to brush their nets to enhance fishing. Body parts are also sought after for protection, for example against plane crashes. It is also believed that body parts can protect one against witches and that burying a body part of a person with albinism in one's house will keep witches away.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Year
- 2016
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
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- It was reported that witchcraft beliefs and associated practices relating to the body parts of persons with albinism have led to an underground black market in the purchase and sale of body parts. This entire phenomenon seems to have no historical precedent. Yet there is a reasonable link between historical discrimination and stigma (including myths relating to disappearances and infanticide) on the one hand and the current situation of attacks on the other - the former laying the foundation for the latter.
- 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
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 46
- Paragraph text
- Witchcraft beliefs and practices as they relate to albinism have essentially capitalized on a myth-riddled situation, to the benefit of practitioners and willing believers. Further, the relative rarity of body parts of persons with albinism has been capitalized upon by the witchcraft beliefs which proffer that the body parts can attract equally rare minerals, such as gold or diamonds. The same argument with regard to rarity appears to have informed the market value of body parts, such that "the albino fetish has become the most expensive charm because it is perceived as harnessing spirits that are far more powerful than … a waganga [witchdoctor/traditional healer] could otherwise offer".
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Year
- 2016
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
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 56
- Paragraph text
- In a context of poverty, and in view of the reported black market value of body parts of persons with albinism, the perceived possibility of becoming rich quickly is a strong incentive for attacks. Perpetrators recruited to abduct or kill a person with albinism, or informants revealing where persons with albinism live, are often promised a sum of money. Similarly, traditional healers or herbalists in a difficult economic context may be tempted to take advantage of myths and witchcraft beliefs concerning albinism to 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
- Violence
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 66
- Paragraph text
- Witchcraft is therefore, at least in part, a means of reconciling the traditional with the modern, the former promising to answer questions deemed unanswered by the latter. However the explanations provided by witchcraft are often not grounded on fact but are based on myths and pre-existing beliefs, for which the witchdoctor has a solution at a price. The situation bears strong elements of fraud. To the extent that it solves socioeconomic problems, at best, it supplies only a limited form of social justice and equity as it fails to address the real causes of problems and ultimately leads people to resign themselves to their "misfortunes" instead of accurately understanding and resolving them.
- 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
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
Preliminary survey on the root causes of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism 2016, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- The characterization of persons with albinism in films and literature has largely been belittling, negative and caricature-peddling. Although there is reason to be optimistic on the basis of new trends in the past five years, there remains a lot of work to be done because "modern movies, novels, television programs, etc. still insist on using albinism for its shock value…¸ rather than present the facts about the condition since these do not lend themselves to an interesting story. Storytellers choose to use the physical appearance of albinism to invent their own fantasies, and expose their own superstitions and fears" [about the condition]. It has also been reported that the Nigerian film industry, by similarly portraying persons with albinism and normalizing witchcraft, contributes to the spreading of myths and encourages resort to witchdoctors in times of misfortune or hardship.
- Body
- Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Servile marriage 2012, para. 98
- Paragraph text
- Violations relating to servile marriage such as domestic servitude and sexual slavery should be criminalized. Governments should also denounce and strengthen laws regarding crimes committed in the name of honour. Victims or survivors of honour crimes should not be placed in protective custody but instead provided with long-term safe housing. Psychosocial services should be provided for victims, such as community-based support mechanisms and services, including mobilizing the community and raising its awareness of the consequences of the crimes, to help to prevent future crimes and to assist with the reintegration of victims.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Violence
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Servile marriage 2012, para. 104
- Paragraph text
- States should launch awareness-raising campaigns about servile marriage and the remedies available to potential and actual victims, reproductive health and health care, and the importance of birth and marriage registration. These should be targeted at the general public and health-care workers. Programmes should be developed with local communities and their leaders, including elders and religious leaders, to stop servile marriage within the community.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Health
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
Study on illegal adoptions 2017, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- As the case of Romania demonstrates, one response to deficiencies in the intercountry adoption procedure has been the provisional suspension of adoptions, often known as moratoriums. In numerous countries of origin and receiving countries, moratoriums have been imposed following scandals revealing illegal practices in adoption procedures. The Hague Conference on Private International Law has noted that many States have a reactive approach to financial malpractice and abuse in intercountry adoption and tend to wait until problems are pervasive before addressing them.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Harmful Practices
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Study on illegal adoptions 2017, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- The disproportionate demand for adoption is particularly relevant in the context of intercountry adoptions and leads to excessive pressures from receiving countries on countries of origin. Furthermore, when the number of intercountry adoptions suddenly and rapidly increases in a country of origin, the existing infrastructure will often not be able to cope, intensifying the risk of illegal acts and illicit practices.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Harmful Practices
- Movement
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Year
- 2017
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
Vision for the mandate 2016, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- Since 2007, civil society organizations have reported hundreds of attacks against persons with albinism in 25 countries. All of those physical attacks appear to be, at least in part, related to the erroneous beliefs and myths linked to 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
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
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
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
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
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
Paragraph