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| Participants of the Project's Start-Off Meeting with Bishop Tambala |
By: ECM’s Stella Zulu Kaferapanjira
In a quest to promote human rights and human dignity for persons with albinism, the Justice arm of the Catholic Church in the country, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), has embarked on a two-year journey aimed at enhancing rights and freedoms of persons with albinism in the country.
The endeavor will be fulfilled through the European Union funded project “Promoting and Protecting the rights to health care and access to justice for persons with albinism in Malawi for more secure and dignified lives” in Zomba and Machinga Districts in the Catholic Diocese of Zomba.
According to CCJP, the idea came about due to the sad truth that persons with albinism in Malawi face numerous human rights challenges in accessing justice and health care despite being provided for in domestic and international human rights law.
Through this project, CCJP envisions to achieve societal mindset change on myths and misconceptions regarding persons with albinism and their implications, increased access by persons with albinism and their families to appropriate healthcare and legal support in cases of discrimination and rights violation, as well as ensuring that existing legal and policy frameworks and provisions respond to the needs of persons with albinism.
Speaking during the project start-off meeting held on 26th-29th November 2019, in Zomba, his Lordship, Desmond Tambala, Bishop for Zomba Catholic Diocese said through this project, the Church is committed to providing security, shelter, food, education and love to persons with albinism which is what they ask for from all people surrounding them.
“Thanks to CCJP for stepping in and responding to challenges of injustice faced by our brothers and sisters with albinism. The Catholic Social Teaching insists on our duty as the voice of the voiceless and exposing of injustice and lobbying for sustainable solutions for persons with albinism is part of the Gospel. We hope that through this project, the Church will help in creating a safe environment for our brothers and sisters in our villages, schools, hospitals, markets, buses and Churches,” said Bishop Tambala.
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| A cross-section of Participants During the Meeting |
On his part, the National Coordinator for APAM, Mr. Overstone Kondowe, thanked the Catholic Church for always being there for persons with albinism by helping the government of Malawi in promoting and protecting the rights of persons with albinism. He said CCJP does not speak for persons with albinism but speak with them as they are always involved from project planning, implementation and monitoring, an example to be emulated in approaching issues to do with persons with albinism in the country.
“As you may all be aware, CCJP has been working with APAM in Dedza and Machinga and they are extending the same services to Zomba. This is really joy to us because these are areas where Government and other players have not extended their services. We are sure that this will create a good environment where persons with albinism will equally enjoy their rights to health as well as access to justice. We believe that interventions packed in this project will improve the dignity of persons with albinism in the catchment area and beyond,” said Mr. Kondowe
He then called on other organizations to further help persons with albinism in the country so that they live dignified lives. The project will run from 1 November 2019 to 30thOctober, 2021.