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Malawian officials must keep their promises and tackle discrimination and attacks on people living with albinism, Amnesty International has said.
The human rights group said this during International Albino Awareness Day.
According to a statement released by the organisation, commitments from the Malawian government were secured through a series of meetings, with officials pledging their dedication to not only address albino murders, but also to tackle discrimination affecting this vulnerable sector of society.
Amnesty on June 7 presented President Peter Mutharika with a report on the plight of albino nationals living in the southern African country, sparking a series of promises on the part of the government to review policies and ensure that adequate protection was provided for citizens living with the condition.
“Recognition by the Malawian authorities at the highest level that people with albinism not only experience daily discrimination, but also live in constant fear of attacks is an important step in addressing the problem,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s regional director for southern Africa.
“Malawian police need more resources and must conduct thorough and effective investigations to bring the abductions and killings to an end. Visible policing in rural areas coupled with an effective public education campaign can contribute significantly in arresting the problem,” Muchena added.
The organisation has previously slammed Malawian police over a surge of albino killings in the country, claiming that the violence came as a result of the systematic failure of policing in Malawi.
