UN set to investigate albino killings in EA

Dar/Geneva. The UN Human Rights Council on Thursday decided to appoint an expert to investigate abuses suffered by albinos in East Africa. The 47-member council adopted by consensus a resolution establishing a three-year watchdog position. It expressed “grave concern at attacks and widespread violations against persons with albinism, including women and children, persons with disabilities and the elderly.”

The resolution, presented by Algeria on behalf of the group of African states, comes after UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein earlier this month decried a steep hike in attacks on albinos in East Africa. “These attacks are often stunningly vicious, with children in particular being targeted,” Zeid said.

The move by UN Human Rights Council comes when the number of incident of violation against people living with albinism, which include abduction, mutilation and even killing have started to surge in Tanzania. Last year, three such cases occurred each in Mwanza, Tabora and Simiyu regions, while this year one case was reported in Geita. In Mwanza, an albino child, who went missing, has not been recovered.

Earlier this month a six-year-old albino boy in Rukwa had his right hand chopped off in another gory attack on people with albinism.

According to the UN, in the past six months, at least 15 people with albinism in Tanzania, Malawi and Burundi have been abducted, wounded, killed or escaped being kidnapped. President Jakaya Kikwete condemned the attack of people with albinism as he vowed to end the albino plight. According to him, 2008 turned out to be the worst year with 18 murder cases of people with albinism.  “It was preceded by deaths of seven people with albinism in 2007, but my government has been working to prevent more deaths,” the president said during his end of the month nation address.

Because of vigilance, the president added that the brutal killings had in 2009 dropped to nine, followed by one case in 2010 with no case reported in 2011.