Religious leaders have tasked the Edo State Government and traditional rulers on protection of persons with albinism especially women and children, against discrimination and stigmatization to enable them achieve their potentials.
They made the call in Benin over the weekend during a sensitization workshop for religion and traditional leaders on tackling myths and superstitions beliefs associated with persons with albinism.
The workshop was organised by the Initiative for Advancement of the Albinism Cause (INAAC) and funded by Nigeria Women Trust Fund.
Speaking during the programme, the Chief Iman of Benin, Abdulfatai Enabulele, attributed the discrimination against persons with albinism to tradition and custom of the people.
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He said Islam doesn’t discriminate against people including persons with albinism, seeking more engagements with traditional rulers, who are the custodian of custom and traditions of the people.
On his part. Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Eromosele said the state government was not doing enough in protecting the persons with albinism in the society
According to him, albinism is not a form of deformity that warrant stigmatisation and discrimination, as persons with albinism are expression of the distributive power of nature and should not be discriminated against.
Earlier, INAAC Executive Director, Joy Obehi Odigie, lamented that the stigmatisation and discrimination against persons with albinism was affecting them in achieving their potentials.
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She the workshop was to meant to sensitize religious and traditional leaders on the eradication of harmful myths and superstitions associated with albinism with a view to preventing gender based violence against women, girls and children with albinism.
“We must work together towards creating a society that not only accepting people with albinism but also actively celebrates their uniqueness and diversity and also stand against discrimination and harmful practices against them,” she said.
While lamenting the absence of traditional rulers at the event, she said religious and traditional leaders, must all work towards creating a more compassionate, inclusive and just society every one valued.
However, Dr.Georgina Eromosele of the Edo State Gender Based Violence, said Edo State government was against all forms of discrimination and violence against any persons including persons with albinism.
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She called on the public to help in reducing the myth and belief about people with albinism, saying rather than the discrimination and stigmatization, they should help them to achieve their potentials.
We are all created by God and but we are different in various aspect and expression of human being should not be reduced because they are living with albinism.
In African some culture are religion themselves, some of the statements of discrimination against albinism comes as a result of such cultures which are the People’s religion.
I believe that religion should play a greater role in breaking down the the stronghold reinforce by culture that believe that are less inferior or fit more in the society than the other.
He called on religion leader to do their work and speak the truth to the people.
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