WV-Malawi-Associate-Director-for-Advocacy-Communications-and-Justice-for-Children-Charles-Gwengwe-and-President-for-APAM-Overstone-Kondowe-President-for-APAM-Overstone-Kondowe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-People living with Albinism in Malawi on Friday sought asylum from others nations arguing that the country’s leadership has failed miserably to protect them from vicious attack.
The grouping therefore set for vigil to force Malawi leadership to be actionable on various concerned raised since their attack started in 2014 that about 13,000 of them are living in fear.
This follows continue attack on them despite media intensive reporting with little progress in bringing culprits to book completely.
Addressing the joint press conference; Association of People living with Albinism of Malawi (APAM) with World Vision Malawi, the grouping doubted the ability of country’s leadership to protect them hence seeking for asylum in other countries.
Members-from-APAM
Below is the full statement issued by WV Malawi Associate Director for Advocacy, Communications and Justice for Children, Charles Gwengwe on the ‘Abduction, Killing of People living with Albinism & Violence Against Women’.
SALUTATIONS ·
- President for APAM, Overstone Kondowe ·
- Members from APAM ·
- UN Women Representative, Limbani Msiska ·
- Members of the Press ·
- Fellow World Vision Staff Introduction ·
- World Vision Malawi, and other development partners, is alarmed by the continued abduction and attacks on persons living with albinism in Malawi.
We join the rest of the development partners and Civil Society to condemn this inhuman practice in strongest terms.
The abduction of One and half Year old girl, Eunice Nkhonjera in TA Wasambo, GVH Malango (Lweza) in Karonga, on 22 January 2019 and her whereabouts is of great public concern and an issue of Human rights and child protection not only to her but to everyone living with albinism.
Violence against children in any forms must be stopped.
The latest abduction of baby Eunice follows the killing of Yasin Phiri in Nkhatabay last month.
As a country, we need to ask ourselves why we are failing to protect children and people, especially those living with albinism.
As an emerging issue, it has negative consequences to our country and our development outcomes. ·
Living in fear, failing to access education and other social amenities by individuals living with albinism questions the very commitment Malawi made on safeguarding rights of its citizen especially those that are vulnerable.
As provided for in SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, WV join the rest of its partners to call upon Government, Police and every person to step up their efforts to address the root causes of attacks on persons living with albinism.
We are concerned that out of 165 cases related to people living with albinism that were reported, only 61 have been completed, while 16 are closed and undetected (Min of Justice APAM meeting Jan 2019).
We therefore call upon authorities to ensure a swift and impartial investigation into the abduction of the baby and also killing of people living with albinism, and bring the alleged perpetrators to justice as soon as possible.
As we draw closer to 2019 elections, we call upon Civil Societies, NGOs, Journalists and politicians to make safety of people living with albinism a political agenda for all presidential aspirants so that we can measure and hold them accountable.
In a related development, we also strongly condemn the rising cases of political violence across the country as we get closer to the May 2019 Elections.
The recent case in Mangochi where a woman was undressed is uncalled for in our democratic society.
Such assaults on Women in political circles derail equal participation of women and men in development work. ·
Malawi shouldn’t let violence against women in politics defeat the promotion of gender equality, as well as peaceful and credible elections.
Political violence has greater impact on children. In Malawi, we do not want our children to be socialised to endorse violence as a dominant mode of conflict resolution and settlement of political violence. ·
As we abuse men and women who hold differing viees to our own, let us also think of the trauma that this causes on their children, family and friends.
Therefore, we call on all leaders to take a strong public stance against use of violence especially against women and improve the status of women within their grouping.
There is need to create gender responsive intra-party and inter-party mechanisms and uphold gender equality provisions in the constitution.
We also call upon media to portray women leaders positively and avoid the deliberate negative portrayal of the same as it creates negative stereotypes of women in the political space.
WV will remain committed to supporting the Government of Malawi and work closely with APAM body and other NGOs to promote and protect the rights of persons with albinism and Women and ensure their full participation in the socioeconomic development of the country.
Our initiatives at national and District levels will continue to raise awareness and strengthen protection of people living with albinism and promotion of gender equality