BRIEF PRESENTATION OF AN ADVOCACY STRATEGY

FOR

THE COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

OF TANZANIA

Human Security issue

Horrific Killings of Persons with Albinism in Tanzania:

Presenter: Jamila Sulu

About the organization

Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (Tanzania)

• Independent Government Dept.• Broad legal mandate• Paris Principles Compliant (Status “A”)• Best Managed Public Institution in Africa

& Tanzania

About the organization (cont…)

Functions:• Handling Human rights Complaints• Investigation, public enquiries• Research, monitoring,• Public awareness• Advisory role to government

Issue: Killing of albinos in Tanzania

• Killing of Albinos in Tanzania is a sad reality.• The saddest thing is that the killings are still happening.• There are about 300,000 in the country.•106 attacked (77 killed, 29 mutilated and survived).

Issue…(Cont)•Killings founded on superstitious belief that albinos are not normal human beings.

•Have supernatural powers that bring fortunes (power and wealth).

•Perpetrators are hired men, fortune seekers and close family members.

• Killing by machetes: chopping off legs, arms, wrists, hair and blood sucking in some cases.

• Targeting women and children mostly.

• Some children killed on the way to school.

Causes

• Economic: (wealth and power)

•Cultural: Albinos have in-born supernatural powers

Impact• Human security issue• Economically: Albinos can’t engage in productive activities for fear of attack.•Socially: Children can’t go to school, families separated – some flee to urban centres.•Politically: tarnished country image.

Actors • Central and Local Government•Parliament•Judiciary•CSOs•Political parties•Business community• Opinion & religious leaders•General public

Campaign objectives

(i) Adopt preventive policy.(ii) Amend Penal laws.(iii) Create public awareness

on albino rights.Note: Critical path to be

followed

Campaign scope and timeframe

Timeframe: 2013 – 2016Reach out: • Central and local government authorities & agencies• Communities: Lake Victoria Zone, Kigoma and Rukwa regions.• 10 million people across the country.

Monitoring and evaluation•Framework developed to monitor achievement of objectives.• Indicators•Means of verification

Campaign goals

• Public awareness of albino rights

• No more atrocities against albinos

• Mobilize all actors to take action

Campaign Message

To Government: Adopt effective measures to protect lives of albinos.To Public: Take action to protect life, report to relevant authorities.To CSOs: Intensify awareness campaigns and charity services.To Business Community / Power mongers: Do away with deadly belief.

LobbyingPolicy brief

•Outline cause and scope,• Impact: economically, socially, politically,• Solutions: Preventive policy – construction of safe houses• Political commitment to uphold human rights,• Number of albinos is manageable.

Popular Mobilization

Targets:• Women and Children: because the mostly affected.• Rural community: Attacks happen there• Government: Main actor.• General public: Popular voice

Mobilization Actions

• Open discussions• Parliamentary debates• International community voice• Demonstrations• Petition signing• Artistic events

Media involvement Traditional and social media

•Television•Radio• Newspapers• Twitter / Facebook• Mobile phonesNB: Have wider audiences

Strengths and Weaknesses of the organization (CHRAGG)

Strengths• Broad legal mandate• Adequate human resource• Credibility (locally and internationally)• Good working relationship with multilateral and bilateral partners

Weaknesses

• Inadequate funding from the government budget

• Lack of professional skills (some staff members)

Opportunities

• Public support• Parliament support (Union & HoR)

Risks• Lack of political • Bad laws• Low awareness of human rights

Action Plan (Year One)

Activities• Country-wide survey to assess living conditions of albinos

• High level consultative meetings (Cabinet, Parliamentary committees, Line MDAs)

• Stakeholders meetings (CSOs, academia, Business community)

• Draft Preventive policy

The problem is real!

Let us take action!

Thank you.

The problem is real!