UK speaks on albinos

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the United Kingdom (UK) has issued a ministerial statement expressing concern over reports that there is a rise in human rights violations against persons with albinism in Malawi.

This follows a question an English Member of Parliament of the Conservative Party, Fiona Bruce (Congleton), asked Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on whether he had received reports on the rising cases of violence perpetrated against persons with albinism in Malawi.

In her written response to the written question number 37673 and published on www.parliament.uk on May 19 2016, Bruce also wondered if the Secretary would make a statement to that regard.

In his response published on May 24 2016, James Duddridge said: “We are concerned by reports of a rise in human rights violations against persons with albinism in Malawi.

“Our High Commissioner to Malawi discussed the issue during a meeting with the Malawian Foreign Minister on 27 April and also with United Nations Independent Expert on the rights of persons with Albinism Ms Ikponwosa Ero, during her visit to Malawi on 29 April 2016.”

In an interview Thursday, British High Commissioner Michael Nevin said the publication of the ministerial statement shows UK’s support towards calls to end violence against persons with albinism.

National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust executive director Ollen Mwalubunju said the offer had come at the right time when his organisation was formulating best strategies for disseminating information on the rights of persons with albinism.

This week, Amnesty International (AI) launched a report that analysed the killing and abductions of albinos in the country. n