AFRICA/MALAWI - The local Catholic Church protects the rights of people with albinism

Saturday, 30 January 2021 human rights   human dignity  

Blantyre (Agenzia Fides) - In several African countries the phenomenon of albinism makes albino people live in fear of being kidnapped and killed, due to the widespread belief that some parts of their bodies have special powers. The vulnerability of these people is aggravated by poverty and superstition which lead them to live in conditions of total marginalization.
In cooperation with the volunteers of the “Community Rights Group”, the Justitia-et-Pax Commission (CCJP) of the Diocese of Zomba wants to help those affected by albinism and supports the distribution of bicycles to the volunteers as part of a project so that they can exercise their rights, better protect people with albinism and prevent serious violations of their human rights.
"The members of the Community Rights Group are the watchful eyes of the CCJP", said Charles Alumando, deputy coordinator of the CCJP project for the Diocese of Zomba. "They are the ones who identify people with albinism and the problems they face in the society in which they live", said a Commission communication. "Therefore, they must have a means of transport that enables them to carry out this task effectively".
The aim of the new bicycles is to reach as many people with albinism as possible to inform the CCJP about situations that may require intervention.
In Malawi, there are more people with albinism in the Zomba and Machinga di Amidu districts than in any other part of the country. In the South African country, there were over 134,000 people with albinism in 2018, according to the national statistical office, which is 0.8% of the total population. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 30/1/2021)


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