session in March 2014, the HRC heard statements from a panel of NGOs on the topic of Witchcraft Accusations and ‘Femicide, Women with who discussed the impact of witchcraft accusations on women and girls, within different countries, Disabilities,’ emphasising the need for greater awareness, understanding and engagement with the issue of WAP. 5.9.1 HRC Advisory Committee The HRC Advisory Committee, comprising of eighteen independent experts, was established as a research-based think-tank working under the direction of the HRC. Meeting twice annually, the mandate of the Committee is to provide expertise to the HRC and propose suggestions for further research. On 10 February 2015, the HRC Advisory Committee provided a report for the 28th Session of the HRC, concerning the situation of human rights of persons living with albinism. In this report the link between attacks on people with albinism and witchcraft is clearly highlighted stating that, is difficult owing to the ‘data-gathering secretive nature of witchcraft, which serves as the context of most ritual attacks against persons with The report clearly albinism.’ defines the link between poverty, misfortune and witchcraft; is the case with witchcraft accusations against women, the ‘as elderly and children, muti murders of persons with albinism appear to follow patterns of poverty, misfortune, tension and conflict in The report specifies the need for States to, societies.’ Clarify ambiguities where they exist in laws relating to witchcraft and traditional health practice, including through the effective regulation of the licenses of traditional healers and witchdoctor and a clear ban on the use of harmful practices. Moreover, the report not only specifies the need for clear laws that criminalise and punish acts of WAP against persons with albinism, it accentuates the key issue of implementation. Laws should not simply be promulgated, but they should they must be implemented, in conjunction with concrete measures, such as the education and training of the police and the judiciary on the issue of WAP, in order to facilitate their implementation and ensure that cases of WAP are successfully prosecuted. Following this report, the General Assembly (GA) proclaimed in resolution 69/170 of 18 December 2014, that with effect from 2015, 13 June would be recognised as International Albinism Awareness Day. Moreover, in June 2015 the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report on the taken to raise awareness and promote the protection of the ‘Initiatives
session in March 2014, the HRC heard statements from a panel of NGOs on the topic of ‘Femicide, Witchcraft Accusations and Women with Disabilities,’ who discussed the impact of witchcraft accusations on women and girls, within different countries, emphasising the need for greater awareness, understanding and engagement with the issue of WAP. 5.9.1 HRC Advisory Committee The HRC Advisory Committee, comprising of eighteen independent experts, was established as a research-based think-tank working under the direction of the HRC. Meeting twice annually, the mandate of the Committee is to provide expertise to the HRC and propose suggestions for further research. On 10 February 2015, the HRC Advisory Committee provided a report for the 28th Session of the HRC, concerning the situation of human rights of persons living with albinism. In this report the link between attacks on people with albinism and witchcraft is clearly highlighted stating that, ‘data-gathering is difficult owing to the secretive nature of witchcraft, which serves as the context of most ritual attacks against persons with albinism.’ The report clearly defines the link between poverty, misfortune and witchcraft; ‘as is the case with witchcraft accusations against women, the elderly and children, muti murders of persons with albinism appear to follow patterns of poverty, misfortune, tension and conflict in societies.’ The report specifies the need for States to, Clarify ambiguities where they exist in laws relating to witchcraft and traditional health practice, including through the effective regulation of the licenses of traditional healers and witchdoctor and a clear ban on the use of harmful practices. Moreover, the report not only specifies the need for clear laws that criminalise and punish acts of WAP against persons with albinism, it accentuates the key issue of implementation. Laws should not simply be promulgated, but they should they must be implemented, in conjunction with concrete measures, such as the education and training of the police and the judiciary on the issue of WAP, in order to facilitate their implementation and ensure that cases of WAP are successfully prosecuted. Following this report, the General Assembly (GA) proclaimed in resolution 69/170 of 18 December 2014, that with effect from 2015, 13 June would be recognised as International Albinism Awareness Day. Moreover, in June 2015 the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report on the ‘Initiatives taken to raise awareness and promote the protection of the
PHD_whole_Amendments_post_viva_2016_.docx