United Nations condemns violence against those with albinism in Africa

(Vatican Radio) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has expressed revulsion at a recent surge in violent attacks against people with albinism in several East African countries. 

Listen to the report by correspondent Peter Kenny: 

In the past six months, at least 15 people with albinism in Tanzania, Malawi and Burundi were abducted, wounded, killed or subjected to attempted kidnappings. These included three such incidents in the past week alone.

“These attacks are often stunningly vicious, with children in particular being targeted. As a result, many people with albinism are living in abject fear,” said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UNHCHR.

“Some no longer dare to go outside, and children with albinism have stopped attending school because of the recent spate of assaults, murders and kidnappings,” he said.

“In Malawi alone, at least six incidents have been reported recorded in the first ten weeks of this year, compared to four incidents over the previous two years,” Colville continued. “In Machinga District, in the south of the country, where several kidnappings and killings have taken place, groups of men are reported to be roaming around hunting for people with albinism.”

The situation has also worsened in Tanzania. On Saturday, a six-year-old boy was attacked in his home in Kiseta village. The attackers fled after cutting off his right hand, fleeing with it.

The UN rights chief called on authorities to prevent attacks on people with albinism in all countries where they are occurring and to bring to justice perpetrators.