UNICEF calls for crackdown on albino murders in Tanzania
May be this will help in the fight against albino killings in Tanzania and
the neighboring countries. Albinos are normal human beings who,
by no choice of their own, happened to lack some pigment that gives
a skin a certain color.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is calling for concerted action to end the recent spate of murders of albinos in Tanzania and bring perpetrators to justice.
Reports from the Tanzania Albino Society say more than 35 albinos have been killed this year, and many other deaths have likely gone unreported, by local Tanzanians who believe their blood and body parts can bring wealth to others. The brutal practice has spread to neighbouring Burundi , where several albinos, including children, have been killed in the past few months.
“UNICEF condemns these heinous acts as a systematic violation of individual human rights that must be dealt with decisively,” the agency said in a news release.
Tanzanian authorities have arrested 173 suspects, including five policemen, in connection with the murders, and are offering protection to albinos throughout the country. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has also condemned the attacks and called for tough action against the killers.
UNICEF lauds those measures, but is calling on the judiciary, the media, religious leaders, politicians and communities to bolster the response and weed out deeply-rooted superstitious beliefs that incite the murders.
The problem is particularly acute in the Lake Victoria regions of Mara, Mwanza, Shinyanga and Kagera, in the country’s north, where witch doctors have convinced fortune-seekers that albino body parts and blood can be used to prospect for gold and increase a catch of fish – both important sources of income in these regions rich in minerals and commercial fishing.
UNICEF said it will also do its part by working with the Tanzanian Government, UN offices in Tanzania and others to “ensure albinos like other citizens enjoy their fundamental rights to life, freedom and protection.” The agency is already partnering with Burundi ’s Government to protect albinos there, give them non-food items and ensure their children can still attend school.
Source: UN News website
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4 feedback :
Thanx Subi. But do we really need UNICEF to help us crack down those murderers? If not, do they mean and or think that we don't do enough to hunt them? I think Government needs to do what it can to crack them regardless of who's saying what.
Mzee,
Whatever it may take, I think the external force is very much needed to give this fight a push. UNICEF has shown a way, hopefully other bodies of the international community will join hands with us in the fight against albino killings. We have had internal movements, including the online collection of 10,000 signatures, demonstrations in Dar and media campaigns, but so far, very little has been achieved. If it requires that external bodies intervene, so be it, these killings needed to stop yesterday.
No body should die because of their disability (which they have no control of anyway). I believe, if they had a choice, they would have never, even wished to be albinos!
That's true Subi. But i mean if it has to be done, why do we have to wait on external pushes? I'd like to see our countries do whatever they can to get their things done and not depending on external forces. For ppl outside to see our little achievement and decide to intervene shows lack of leadership in our motherlands (which is sad).
You are very right Mzee and I agree with you about questioning they capability of our government in this and such matters. It's hard to figure out clearly whether they (govt officials) do not have the means to crack down and stop these heinous acts or no body feels accountable. I don't understand why and where the government is failing to act.