REPORT OF THE ALBINO FOUNDATION SENSITISATION WORKSHOP FOR

JUDGES/MAGISTRATES, LAWYERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN FCT ON THE

PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH ALBINISM HELD ON

THE 5TH OF DECEMBER 2017 AT THE FCT HIGH COURT, ABUJA.

1.0 Executive Summary

The Albino Foundation held a sensitisation workshop for Judges/Magistrates, Representatives

of Nigeria Bar Association and law enforcement agencies such as the Police, Civil Defence and

Prisons on the protection and enforcement of the rights of persons with albinism. The

workshop had a theme “Albinism right is human rights”. The overall aim of the workshop

was to improve access to justice system and social services for persons with albinism

especially women and children.

This was to further enlighten the judiciary and law enforcement agencies on the challenges

faced by persons with albinism especially women who are most often discriminated and

chased out of their husbands’ homes for given birth to a child with albinism and children who

are often rejected by their families and suffers discrimination from schools and the society at

large.

Participants in a group photograph

The workshop was attended by Hon. Justice V.V.M. Venda of the FCT High Court who

represented FCT Chief Judge, Justice U.I. Bello. There were other Justices of the FCT High

Court, Magistrates, representative of Attorney General Federation and Minister of Justice,

the Nigerian Police, Prisons, Civil Defence and representatives of the various branches of the

Nigeria Bar Association within the FCT. Also, present were media houses, such as Nigeria

Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, African Independent Television,

Hot FM and the Guardian Newspapers.

Two PowerPoint presentations were made by Mr. Jake Epelle, Founder/CEO of the foundation

on albinism, Myths and misconceptions and Barr. Rex Erameh on the protection and

enforcement of the rights of persons with albinism.

In all, there were 27 persons (18 males and 9 females) that participated during the workshop.

2.0 Introduction

The development of human rights within a country is critical to establishing stability and

security within a population. When human rights are ignored, the marginalization of certain

persons within a society typically prevent such a group from participating in and benefitting

from development.

Persons with albinism face discrimination and barriers that restrict their participation in

society on an equal basis with others every day. Nigeria is yet to enact such legislation on the

rights of persons with albinism even though it has signed and ratified the UN Convention on

the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol. Article 4 of the Convention

mandates member states “to adopt all appropriate legislative, administrative and other

measures for the implementation of the rights recognized in the present Convention.” The

challenges persons with albinism face in having their cases brought to justice are grounded in

the vulnerability of the population and include: the fear of attacks, reprisals or further

stigmatization; difficulties in finding witnesses owing to the ostracism they face within their

community and, frequently, the involvement of family and community members in the

discrimination; the lack of awareness of legal rights; the lack of financial resources; the

inadequate capacity of the judicial system to address such cases; the lack of legal aid and

adequate legal representation; and the lack of knowledge of or confidence in the law

enforcement and justice systems.

Another issue is the inter-linkage between discrimination and impunity. There are little legal

data available on all cases. Where there has been information, it is reported that persons with

albinism are discriminated throughout the whole judicial process and that their basic human

rights continue to be violated. Corruption and shortcomings in the justice system,

compounded with the specific challenges faced by persons with albinism in accessing justice

fail to translate initial action of the police into concrete results in the fight against impunity.

Moreover, law enforcement authorities and judicial authorities share the same superstitious

beliefs entrenched in the communities, sometimes considering persons with albinism as sub-

human beings. In addition to the significant difficulties persons with albinism encounter in

accessing justice, remedies and redress are extremely limited, even in the form of medical

rehabilitation and psychological support.

The severity of the violations against persons with albinism and the particular vulnerability of

this population requires States not only to take a more active role in their responsibility to

protect but also to take effective measures to prevent poverty and improve access to all

rights.

It was in view of these challenges that this workshop was held.

3.0 Methodology

Ground rules and instructions were put in place in order to ensure orderliness and success of

the workshop, while the Resource persons presented their papers using PowerPoint

presentations as well as engaged the participants in an interactive question and answer

sessions after each presentation.

A resource person at the workshop

3.0 Objective

The overall objective of the workshop is to improve access to justice system for persons with

albinism in Nigeria.

4.0 Workshop Opening

In his welcome message at the opening of the workshop, the founder/CEO of the foundation

Mr. Jake Epelle thanked the participants for making out time to be part of the programme.

He stated that the workshop was meant to be for a small number of persons so as to ensure

that the objective of the project was achieved. He specifically thanked the Chief Judge of FCT

and his staff for all the support given to the foundation in making the day a reality.

In her opening remark, the representative of the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice V.V.M. Venda

apologised on behalf of the Chief Judge for his absent at the programme. She stated that the

Chief Judge would have loved to be part of the programme if not for his urgent engagement.

She added that she never knew that Persons with albinism are part of the disability

community and stated that she will be in the programme till the end so as to learn and

understand more on issues and challenges facing persons with albinism. she thanked the

foundation for putting up the workshop.

A Cross Section of participants at the workshop

5.1 Technical Session

The technical session involves PowerPoint Presentations by Resource persons and questions

and answers emanating from the presentations.

5.1.1 About albinism, Myths and Misconceptions- by Jake Epelle

In his presentation, Mr. Epelle made the participants to understand what albinism is and what

it is not. He defines albinism as a genetic condition in which a person lacks the gene for

producing melanin - the pigment that protects the skin from ultraviolet light from the sun. He

added that the gene that carries albinism is a recessive gene or a gene that is not dominant.

The recessive gene for albinism becomes expressed only when two parents carrying the

recessive genes pass them to the child. He added that the albinism gene may ‘hibernate’ for

generations only to spring back when a child who carries the recessive genes is born. He also

highlighted the types of albinism to the participants, which are Ocular and Oculocutaneous

albinism. He also highlighted the challenges faced by children with albinism which include but

not limited to Low vision, Skin cancer, Stigma, Discrimination from family, peers, law

enforcement agents and the larger society, Ignorant about albinism, Myths and

misconception about albinism.

Such myths and misconceptions highlighted during the workshop include: That the mother of

a child with albinism slept with a white man; that a child born with albinism is conceived when

a woman has intercourse while she is menstruating; that albinism is a punishment or a curse

from the gods or ancestral spirits due to wrongs done in the family; Persons with albinism

cannot see during the day but see well at night; that body parts of persons with albinism

make potent charms that can make people rich and successful; that drinking the blood of a

person with albinism gives extra magical powers; that having sex with a person with albinism can

cure HIV/AIDS. All these and many other myths and misconceptions were debunked by Mr. Jake, which

has over the years been fuelling stigma and discrimination of persons with albinism by members of

the public.

He urged the law enforcement agents to ensure that they use their good offices to ensure that the

rights of persons with albinism and other vulnerable groups are protected and enforced. He gave

examples of human rights abuses and violations by families, governments and the public meted to

persons with albinism.

A Cross Section of Participants at the workshop

5.1.2 The Role of the Judiciary/Law Enforcement Agencies In the Protection & Enforcement Of The

Rights Of Persons Living With Albinism – By Barr. Rex Erameh

Barr. Erameh who is also a person with albinism, he stated that the topic was apt, to bring to the fore,

ways/suggestions, by which the judiciary/law enforcement agencies, can assist in the protection of

the rights of persons with albinism. He highlighted the various rights signed by the Government of

Nigeria that protects the rights of persons with albinism, which include: Chapter iv of the 1999

constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), African Charter on Human & People

Rights, The United Declaration on Human Rights, The International convention on the elimination of

all forms of Racial Discrimination, Report of the independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights

by persons living will albinism as presented before the HRC of the United Nations on the 18/01/2016

and; The United Nations conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities (UNCRPD).

He urged judges and magistrates for more tolerance/accommodation, especially with regards to the

few of those that appear in their courts. E.g during examination in chief, cross examination or while

trying to read from law reports etc. He added that most times he finds it difficult to see and know

when his lords may have taken down the last word from a witness, so that he can continue with their

case. Ensuring that persons living with albinism, do not get arbitral/unlawful sentences/judgements

against them in deserving cases, on the basis of their skin condition. Ensure adequate protection of all

the rights of persons living with albinism, whenever such issues arise in your courts because we are

first and foremost, human beings.

He called on the state to always investigate/prosecute persons allegedly responsible for the killing of

persons with albinism, because the killing of anyone unlawfully, is a crime against the state and ensure

the proper training of prosecutors who are likely to handle such novel cases.

He concluded by stating that he looks forward to when persons with albinism will be the Chief Judge

of FCT or even the President of Nigeria.

6.0 Commitment from the participants

The participants generally agreed to pursuing the course of albinism and persons with albinism in

Nigeria by committing to:

➢ Ensuring that the rights of persons with albinism are protected

➢ Enforcing the rights of persons with albinism

➢ Enforcing the rights of mothers of children with albinism

➢ Creating albinism awareness

Appendix: Attendance sheets