For more information, please contact: Ms. Luana REALE
, Head of Political, Press and Information Section- Delegation of the European Union to Tanzania
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:
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: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/tanzania/index_en.htm
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On the second matter, I feel compelled to bring to the attention of the highest authorities in Tanzania, as well as of the public at large, 10 Questions that I draw from the elaborated list of issues the group submitted to me. I was impressed by the candid neutrality of the issues raised, which did not point out at any category of supposed culprits in search of luck; such as miners, "witchdoctors", politicians, or so. My 10 Questions are definitely the following: 1.
Is there a new surge in the number of attacks to people living with albinism In Tanzania? Is there a trend of these attacks not to be confined to remote rural/mining areas but to also occur in urban areas as it happened in Tabora or Dar es Salaam? 2.
If yes, why so? Are heinous practices of using body parts of people living with albinism expanding from traditional believers related to mining activity to other segments of the society, including better educated and well-off people? 3.
Are there any dedicated public resources to secure protection and alleviate the conditions of persons living with albinism? If the risk of increasing number and dissemination of attacks is real, should special measures and resources be put in place? 4.
Should people living with albinism be considered a disadvantaged group among the disadvantaged? Or should they be considered on the same foot as the more commonly identified vulnerable groups (women, children, elders, disabled, etc.)? In other words should they be the subject of a specific policy addressing the special threats they are confronted with? 5.
How should safety and protection of people living with albinism be organised? Are measures such as secured residential camps or special schools for children living with albinism carrying the potential of segregation and exclusion? Are they just temporary solutions? Some people
living with albinism even consider protected expatriation as a possible solution…
6.
Is Legal Aid to victims of attacks, to their families and to their associations being considered? 7.
What is the record so far with investigations and prosecution of suspected attackers, instigators and final clients? Impunity with regard to these three types of culprits should not be accepted. 8.
Should a special investigation be set up with the support of specialised bodies to find out more information about where the severed body parts end, where the market places are, what prices are involved, who are the actors and the clients of such inhumane practice? 9.
Which authority/ies has/have been identified as primarily responsible in the government to give response to the grievances and requests of the people living with albinism?
