Kenya Hosts African Leaders with Albinism

NAIROBI  (11 November 2016) – A group of African leaders with albinism and experts working for the realization of the rights of persons with albinism are meeting in Kenya on 14 - 15 November 2016 to develop a regional action plan on albinism. The event hosted by the United Nations Independent Expert on albinism, Ikponwosa Ero and Open Society Initiatives of Southern and Eastern Africa will work on developing specific measures to tackle the often deadly attacks and discrimination faced by persons with albinism in the region.

Persons with albinism in Africa are facing some of the most extreme forms of human rights violations. They face physical attacks fuelled by erroneous beliefs that their body parts can generate good luck and wealth when used in witchcraft potions and amulets. A majority of victims are women and children. They also face entrenched discrimination and stigma extending to their family members particularly mothers of children with albinism. Civil society reports more than 600 attacks across 26 African countries mostly since 2007. These are reported cases alone.

Confronted by these challenges, many civil society organisations, persons with albinism, and states wish to design new ways of dealing with the issues while adopting those that have been successfully tested

“There are a lot of specific, practical, simple and effective measures, workable in Africa, which some countries have successfully used to tackle issues faced by persons with albinism including securing the homes of persons with albinism with proper doors and windows, having a dedicated office and budget on the issue, integrating the issue into pre-existing programs, regulating ‘witchcraft’ and traditional medicine practitioners among others,” Ms. Ero said.

“But these ideas have to be shared as best practices and developed into a continental roadmap to successfully tackle the issue,” the human rights expert underscored.

This is why, following up on the Consultative Forum “Action on Albinism in Africa” that took place in June 2016 in Dar es Salaam, and on the heels of the local civil society event “Mr.  & Miss Albinism Kenya,” which generated worldwide awareness on albinism, 30 Experts will gather at Maanzoni Lodge, Lukenya, Machakos County, Kenya to lay down a roadmap of specific measures aimed at dealing with the human rights issues faced by persons with albinism.

The participants are from 15 countries in the region, all which are affected by cases of attacks and discrimination. Participants are from government, civil society and national human rights institutions.

“As the continent of Africa celebrates the decade of human rights, and the UN launch of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which pledges to leave no one behind – beginning with the furthest behind first – we have a good context in which to develop, plant and receive support for a regional action plan on albinism ,” Ms. Ero said.

A press conference will be held on Wednesday 16 November 2016 at 10am at the Kenyan National Human Rights Commission, Ist Floor, CVS Plaza, Kasuku Lane off Lenana Road.

ENDS

Ms. Ikponwosa Ero (Nigeria) was designated in June 2015 as the first UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism by the Human Rights Council. Inspired by her experiences as a person with albinism, Ms. Ero spent the last seven years working on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism. As international advocacy and legal officer of Under The Same Sun, an NGO with a focus on albinism, she participated in multiple activities and panels at the UN in Geneva and New York. She has extensive experience in research, policy development and advocacy in the field of albinism. She is the author of numerous papers and articles on the issue, including with regards to the categorisation of persons with albinism in the international human rights system. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Albinism/Pages/IEAlbinism.aspx

The Independent Experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

Check the special website: “People with albinism: not ghosts, but human beings - http://albinism.ohchr.org/

For inquiries, please contact please contact Arnaud Chaltin (+41 22 917 9188 / achaltin@ohchr.org) or write to albinism@ohchr.org

For media requests, in Nairobi, Kenya, please contact Newton Kanhema, United Nations Information Centre (Mobile: 254-709 021102; Email: newton.kanhema@unon.org)

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