AFRICA/MALAWI - "Killings of persons with albinism on the rise" denounces Justice and Peace

Tuesday, 24 May 2016 justice  

Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) - "Albinos are being abducted and killed for ritual purposes. Graves have been exhumed and some people have been caught by the police with bones and other albino body parts. We as a Justice and Peace arm of the Catholic Church are not happy with the development", said Acting National Coordinator for CCJP, Martin Chiphwanya, denouncing the rise in crimes against albinos.
According to Chiphwanya the problem needs to be addressed with an integrated approach involving police, judiciary, religious and traditional leaders, members of civil society.
Law enforcement officers should be trained to conduct investigations and prosecute cases in court in the strongest terms. Traditional leaders, the religious and civil society, should instead help to sensitize the population to treat albinos with dignity.
Chiphwanya also underlined the importance of cooperation with neighboring countries facing similar problems. Recently, the police in Malawi in collaboration with that of Mozambique have arrested two people accused of murdering an albino boy in order to use the bones for alleged ritual purposes.
Tanzania has launched a program to eradicate these criminal practices, based on superstitions, and the President of Malawi, Peter Mutharika has announced that he will send a government delegation to that Country to learn how to deal with the problem. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 24/05/2016)


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