In April of 2016 United Nations human rights expert Ikponwosa Ero predicted that in Malawi people with albinism are facing the risk of systemic extinction over time if nobody steps up to the plate to help them. In many countries in African this minority faces this same issue.
This is an entire population of human beings that is facing extinction.
For years people living in the continent of Africa have lived in fear of their lives and the lives of their children with albinism. It’s a condition that leaves the skin with very little pigmentation. Those born with this face a grim life ahead of them with high risks of being killed. They are targeted because of an old wives’ tale that their body parts can cure certain ailments. A complete set of albino body parts can sell upwards of several thousands of dollars on the black market. People with albinism are targeted for the colour of their skin, and somehow the major news networks in Canada are more focused on animals that have albinism. Meanwhile, major news outlets have yet to cover how many people have albinism on the African continent and no one has the numbers of how many have been murdered or attacked.
Sources:
UN News Center. "In Malawi, people with albinism face 'total extinction'– UN rights expert." April 29, 2016. Accessed March 14, 2017. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53820#.WMoTU_krLIV.
AllAfrica.com. "Malawi: People With Albinism Call for Probe of the Human Parts Market." March 07, 2017. Accessed March 14, 2017. http://allafrica.com/stories/201703070269.html.
UN News Center. "Albino people in DR Congo suffer discrimination and exclusion – UN agency.". August 08, 2008. Accessed March 14, 2017. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27647#.WMqlRPkrLIW.
UN News Center. "UN fund provides $60 million for humanitarian efforts in DR Congo." May 07, 2008. Accessed March 14, 2017. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26589#.WMoTT_krLIV.
Martin, David R. And Rodrique Ngowi. "For Africa’s hunted albino children, US charity offers them false limbs and true hope." Global News. August 18, 2015. Accessed March 14, 2017. http://globalnews.ca/news/2172284/for-africas-hunted-albino-children-us-charity-offers-them-false-limbs-and-true-hope/.
Under the Same Sun. "About UTSS." About UTSS | Under the Same Sun. Accessed March 14, 2017. http://www.underthesamesun.com/aboututss.
Kwegyir, Al Shaymaa J. "Al Shaymaa J. Kwegyir’s Voice" AL SHAYMAA J. KWEGYIR to Durban Review Conference Geneva, 20-24 April 2009 . April 20, 2009. Tanzania.
http://www.un.org/en/durbanreview2009/pdf/Al%20Shaymaa%20Kwegyir.pdf
Student researcher: Céline Grimard (University of Regina)
Faculty evaluator: Patricia Elliott (University of Regina)
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