Following an event at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva last week, the Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN) and Standing Voice (SV) have called for more action to be taken to address the public health misconceptions towards people with albinism, as a driving force behind human rights violations against this group across Africa. The event, hosted by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNiCRi) looked at the root causes of attacks against persons with albinism.
Throughout many African countries people with albinism are seen as mythical, mystical beings. In Tanzania and Malawi, where abuses have been well documented, some local beliefs suggest that people with albinism are ghosts who administer curses; will bring ill fortune if you come into contact with them; are the result of a curse put on the family; and can bring good fortune when their body parts are used in potions. As a result, there have been 438 recorded attacks in 25 African countries since 2006, and 165 muti murders, where people with albinism are murdered for their body parts to be used by so-called witchdoctors for magic spells (muti). Evidence suggests that such practices are spreading.
However, science tells us that albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited condition that affects people worldwide regardless of ethnicity or gender. It naturally results from a significant deficit in the production of melanin and is characterized by the partial or complete absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. When both parents carry the recessive albinism gene their child has a 25% chance of having albinism. The condition itself is easily managed with effective dermatology and optometry health services, which can prevent skin cancer and mitigate the visual impairment associated with melanin deficiency.
According to Gary Foxcroft, Executive Director of the Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN): “Community misconceptions of public health conditions, such as albinism, along with beliefs in witchcraft and the power of muti, are leading to widespread human rights abuses of vulnerable people across Africa and other parts of the world. Urgent action needs to be taken to demystify public health conditions that are considered to be signs of witchcraft or possession by evil spirits. The World Health Organisation should take the lead on this issue if solutions are to be developed”.
The health conditions faced by people with albinism are also a significant obstacle to their enjoyment of their human rights.
Speaking following the UN event in Geneva, the Managing Director of Standing Voice, Jon Beale said: “Our services and research show an evidenced relationship between skin lesions and stigma, leading to dehumanising myths surrounding albinism. Our Skin Cancer Prevention data reveals higher rates of solar keratosis (pre-cancerous lesions) and skin cancer in areas where we have particularly strong evidence of dehumanising attitudes towards albinism. This is a self-perpetuating cycle, of mutually enforcing issues: stigma causes a negligence towards health needs, whilst the stigma surrounding visibly poor skin health fuels dehumanising myths and attitudes.”
The meeting in Geneva concluded that more needs to be done to demystify albinism and, on a positive note, all participants agreed to join hands in the fight against the stigma, discrimination and murder faced by people with albinism that take place due to the misconceptions of what albinism is.
The Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN) and Standing Voice (SV) are calling for more actions from states to (1) ensure their citizens who have albinism have regular access to the dermatology and optometry health services they require and (2) educate the wider public about the science behind albinism, as two clearly defined initiatives which will both improve the dermatological health of people with albinism and stem human rights violations through demystifying the condition.