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Resolution on persons with albinism in Africa

Resolution on persons with albinism in Africa
Jurisdiction
African Regional Bodies · African Union (AU)
Regional Body / Author
Pan-African Parliament
Date
17 May 2018
Language
English
Publication
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African Union

Resolution on persons with albinism in Africa

THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT,CONSIDERING Article 17 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union on the establishment of the Pan-African Parliament;CONSIDERING also Article 3 of the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-African Parliament, and Rule 3 (a) of the Rules of Procedure of the Pan-African Parliament;CONSIDERING FURTHER Articles 2, 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter), which guarantee every individual the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognised in the Charter regardless of race, ethnic group, colour, sex, language, religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or other status, and entitle every individual to equal protection of the law as well as respect of their life and the integrity of their person, and prohibit torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment;NOTING WITH CONCERN that persons with albinism in the region continue to face prejudice, stigmatisation and social exclusion, as well as multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination which impedes the enjoyment of their human rights;NOTING FURTHER that, in the Preamble of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (Africa Disability Protocol), adopted by Heads of State on January 30, 2018, the Member States of the African Union expressed grave concern at the harmful practices that persons with albinism often experience in particular the maiming or killing of persons with albinism in many parts of the continent;DEEPLY DISTURBED at continuing reports of systematic attacks against persons with albinism in multiple countries, in particular against women and children and the failure of law enforcement agencies to promptly and effectively investigate and prosecute perpetrators of these attacks;RECALLING Resolution ACHPR/Res.263 2013 on the prevention of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism; Resolution ACHPR/Res.349 2016 on the attacks on persons with albinism in Malawi and Resolution ACHPR/Res.373 2017 on the Regional Action Plan on Albinism;RECALLING also Resolution 23/13 of the Human Rights Council on attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism, General Assembly Resolution A/RES/69/170 establishing International Albinism Awareness Day on 13 June, and Resolution 29/06 of the Human Rights Council establishing the mandate of the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights of Persons with Albinism;CONGISANT of initial steps taken and efforts made by some countries affected to develop national institutional mechanisms for the protection and promotion of rights of persons with albinism;IN ACCORDANCE WITH Rule 5 (d) of the Rules of Procedures of the PAP, which authorises the PAP to make recommendations and formulate resolutions on any matter relating to the African Union and its organs, Regional Economic Communities and their respective organs, Member States and their organs and institutions;
NOW HEREBY REVOLVES TO:
1.Strongly condemn the continuing incidences of attacks and other human rights violations, including killings, mutilations, ritual rape and grave robberies against persons with albinism on the continent;
2.Endorse the Regional Action Plan on Albinism in Africa (2017-2021), which lays out specific measures for addressing attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism through prevention, protection, accountability as well as equality and non-discrimination measures;
3.Urge the AU Member States to review, reform or abolish, where necessary, existing legislation, policies and practices that do not comply with international and regional human rights standards or do not effectively protect the human rights of persons with albinism;
4.Call on the AU Member States to take all measures necessary to adopt and implement the Regional Action Plan and to ensure the effective protection and promotion of the rights of persons with albinism and members of their families;
5.Urge the organs of the Pan-African Parliament to give due regard to the Regional Action Plan within their mandates;
6.Encourage State Parties to ratify and ensure the effective implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa and other relevant Protocols.
7.Take effective steps to promote regional cooperation for the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution and punishment of cross-border crimes affecting persons with albinism, notably trafficking of persons, children and body parts;
8.Working in collaboration with civil society and other interested partners to demystify albinism, including through awareness raising campaigns across the five regions of Africa.Midrand, South Africa17 May 2018
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