Saturday 28 March 2015

UN set to investigate albino killings in EA

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Reporter & AFP 

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.

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