Malawi has failed albinos—UN Malawi
United Nations (UN) Women has blamed Malawi for failing to stop killings and abductions of people with albinism, saying the continued brutal acts are a violation of human rights.
UN Women country representative Clara Anyangwe was speaking yesterday in Mangochi during a stakeholders conference on albinism.
In an interview, Anyangwe said it is sad that Malawi is still making headlines on issues of persons with albinism being abducted or killed or sometimes their body parts exhumed at a time it was expected to have dealt with the inhumane behaviour.
She said: “As UN Women, we are greatly worried with the escalating cases of these barbaric acts. We are not inspired at all.”
Anyangwe mentioned the many unprosecuted cases on people with albinism, the abduction of an 18-month-old baby in Karonga District yesterday and the recent killing of Yasini Phiri of Nkhata Bay as some of the worst practices against people with albinism.
“Our justice system is not good. I wish the wheels of justice would move faster to arrest the perpetrators and give them harsh punishments. This would send a strong signal to would-be offenders,” she said.
In his remarks, Association of Persons with Albinism (Apam) president Overstone Kondowe challenged the participants who were drawn from government, non-governmental organisations, the academia and human rights defenders that the continued killings and abductions of persons with albinism should send a clear message that the people are still unsafe.
“I hope the conference will help find long-lasting solutions that would protect us,” he appealed.
Government ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which promotes the right to life, dignity, personal security and safety for all citizens, and the Malawi Constitution guarantees equal protection for all. The conference was aimed at seeking collective action towards the promotion of human rights for persons with albinism in the country.
