New York – United Nations expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, has raised the alarm that people with albinism were being hunted for witchcraft rituals.
The expert, Ms Ikponwosa Ero raised the alarm on Tuesday in a report she presented at the UN Human Rights Council.
She said that albino’s body parts were hacked off with machetes and their graves desecrated.
“Dangerous myths feed these attacks on innocent people.
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“Many erroneously believe people with albinism are not human beings, but are ghosts or sub-humans that cannot die but only disappear.
“Tragically many believe the condition is a curse,” she said.
Ero said that since she assumed her duties eight months ago, there had been reports of 40 attacks across seven countries
“This represents just a fraction of the total as most are secretive rituals in rural areas that are never reported, some even involving the victims’ own family members as accomplices,” she said.
In her report, Ero outlined plans on how to identify the root causes of the attacks.
She said that the plan would include careful understanding, definition and delineation of witchcraft practice, the form it takes and the effects it had on persons with albinism.
“Effective measures to end attacks will include plans to fast track immediate investigation of allegations and prosecution of alleged perpetrators.
“Appropriate legal, social, psychological and medical remedy and redress for victims; actions to prevent trafficking in body parts as well as measures for the safe re-integration of displaced persons with albinism,” she said. (PANA/NAN)