Albinism in Tanzania: Social Stigma and Derogatory Leading to Human Right Violations
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People with albinism are facing
serious risk of being attacked, discriminated, and even killed in some sub-Saharan
Africa countries, especially in Tanzania. The myth of their body parts can
bring good luck has become one of the social issues that need to be resolved in
order to pursue the equal rights to life for everyone, which includes those who
live with albinism, as stated on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.
Albinism is a gene condition that
shows lack of melanin or a pigment that protects skin from the ultraviolet
light from the sun, and this condition can also affect not only skin, but also
hair and eyes. The estimated ratio of people that living with this gene condition
in Tanzania alone is around 1:3,000, Nigeria at 1:1100, and South Africa estimated
around 1:3,600. However, even though statistically Africa seems to have a high numbers
of people born with albinism, it does not necessary mean that albinism can only
be found in Africa, whereas also in other parts of the world.
The body parts of people that living
with albinism in Africa fetching high prices for witchcraft, hence, the number
of abductions and killings those who living with albinism has risen since the
year of 2000 within the fishing and mining communities, that seems to threaten
not only the life of men, but also women and children with albinism. The cause
of the increasing numbers of this case is believed to root from the extreme
poverty in the African region, especially in the area of Lake Victoria that
lies between three countries; Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. The Lake Victoria is
known as the place where abductions and killings are often occurred as
coincidentally where most people that living with albinism live in these
African regions, especially in Tanzania.
According to a report from the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, a complete
set body part of the people that living with albinism can fetch up to $75,000.
That includes genitals, tongue, four limbs, ears and nose.
The belief of the body parts or the
people that living with albinism are associated with good luck charms was
spread by witchdoctors, and this seems to highly benefit them especially during
elections. During the election period, the demand of their body parts seems to
reach the highest percentage, which means it requires more killings and
abductions as they believe that it can guarantee victory in the polls.
Not only because of this barbaric ritual
killing, people with albinism around the world continue to face suffer terrible
discrimination and social exclusion, and this has attracted states around the
world to gather and discuss the prevention of more human rights violations
towards those people living with gene condition by cooperating and executing the
concept of human rights that stated on the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights that agreed to be the fundamental human rights laws and have become part
of the constitutional laws of democratic nations.
Concerns have been given by the
United Nations Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to
ensure the protection of human and people’s rights in Africa, in this case, at
the widespread of discrimination, stigma and social exclusion directed at the
persons with albinism, by recalling the Article 2 of the African Charter which
guarantees every individual the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognized
in the Charter regardless of race, ethnic group, color, sex, language,
religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune,
birth or other status.
According to High Commissioner of
Human Rights, Navi Pillays said that “The fight against impunity is a key
component for prevention and deterrence of the crimes targeting this
‘exceptionally vulnerable community.’ Victims often face significant
difficulties in bringing their cases to justice, fearing retaliatory attacks or
further stigmatization. Without effective and affordable access to justice,
many cannot claim their rights.”
The myths and misconceptions have
caused great trauma for every individual that living with albinism, the
victims’ families, and its vulnerable and small circle of community, where their
voice cannot be heard. Hence, it urges all states to cooperate more and put
more efforts into solving this issue that is often overlooked. Not only that,
other non-state actors such as individuals, media, and human rights
organizations and agencies have also important roles in preventing more cases
of discrimination, attacks, and killings people that living with albinism, and
in helping to fund, lobby, advocacy and influence policy and practice changes.
Note:
In the albinism community, opinions
on the use of the word “albino” or “albinos” may vary, however, since some
people find it extraordinarily offensive, hence I avoid using the word
“albino.” Though every individual that living with this gene condition may have
different view on the usage of the word, which depends on the connotation,
context, or intent in which the word is used.
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