UN Expert in Malawi to assess abuses on albinism

United Nations (UN) independent expert on the enjoyment of human rights of persons with albinism Ikponwosa Ero has said she will make recommendations on the situation of people with albinism in Malawi on Friday this week.

She was speaking in Kasungu after meeting government officials in the district judiciary, police, Civil Society Organisations and traditional leaders.

Ero jetted in the country on April 18 for a 12-day monitoring visit to assess the human rights situation of the people with albinism following increased cases of abductions and killings of people with albinism.

” I appreciate the openness from the officials I met,” said Ero.

National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust Regional Civic Education Officer Vincent Kalawa said the organisation has equally been saddened with the issues of human rights violations against people with albinism.

On his part Kasungu Police Station Officer Senior Assistant Commissioner Ackis Angelo Muwanga said the police has tried to arrest some of the people involved but still some Malawians continue doing the malpractice.

The visit by the UN expert is her first ever to any country since the Human Rights Council established the mandate in March 2015.

The Kasungu trip which will see her meet the families of those killed has taken her to a district which has registered two cases of murder of people with albinism and four cases of bones exhumation.

Ero also visited the area of TA Kawinga in Machinga East constituency where killings and abduction of people living with albinism is becoming rampant.

The area has over 120 people living with albinism.

In her remarks Member of Parliament for the constituency Ester Jolobala said they have been conducting awareness campaigns to overcome the malpractice but are facing financial constraints.