IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 406 

Recognizing the progress made and challenges still faced by people living 

with albinism in East Africa. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 31, 2015 

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama (for himself and Mr. CONNOLLY) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the progress made and challenges still faced 

by people living with albinism in East Africa. 

Whereas the United States House of Representatives brought 

widespread awareness to the plight of people with albinism in East Africa, where many shamans promote the 

deplorable belief that people with albinism are less than 

human, and use their body parts as charms in occult rituals, by passing H. Res. 1088 on March 10, 2010; 

Whereas widespread awareness and public outcry in recent 

years has led to improvements in the lives of people living 

with albinism in East Africa; 

Whereas challenges still exist, and our continued support of 

people with albinism in East Africa is needed; 


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•HRES 406 IH 

Whereas the United Nations Human Rights Council passed 

resolution 23/13 on June 13, 2013, calling for an end to 

attacks and discrimination against people with albinism 

and further urged ‘‘States to adopt specific measures to 

protect and preserve the rights to life and security of persons with albinism’’; 

Whereas United Nations reports indicate that many albinos 

in Tanzania have been murdered since 2000 and their 

dismembered body parts have been sold for hundreds to 

thousands of dollars to be used as charms in rituals, 

many persons with albinism have been attacked resulting 

in dismemberment, and grave robbers have exhumed 

graves seeking limbs and bodies of persons with albinism 

to sell; 

Whereas many people with albinism still lack access to medical services especially for skin cancer and vision problems from which they suffer at higher rates than people 

without albinism; and 

Whereas many people with albinism in East Africa remain 

highly marginalized and consequently have little access to 

education, skills training, jobs, and entrepreneurship opportunities: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commends the governments of East Africa 

3 that have made advances in improving the lives of 

4 people with albinism; 

5 (2) urges that the United States Government 

6 should work with the governments of East Africa 

7 and non-governmental organizations to address vio8 lence against people with albinism; 


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•HRES 406 IH 

1 (3) calls upon governments in East Africa to 

2 continue to work to ensure the right to life, the pro3 hibition of torture and ill-treatment of people with 

4 albinism; 

5 (4) calls upon governments in East Africa to 

6 take appropriate measures to prevent attacks by in7 vestigating and prosecuting those individuals who 

8 kill, assault, persecute, or discriminate against peo9 ple with albinism to the full extent of law; 

10 (5) calls upon governments in East Africa to 

11 adopt specific measures to promote access to ade12 quate health care, employment, education, and jus13 tice for individuals with albinism; and 

14 (6) calls upon governments in East Africa to 

15 work closely together to take measures against 

16 human trafficking of people with albinism across 

17 state borders. 

Æ 


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