On Tuesday 10 September 2024, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Court) will hold a public hearing in Centre for Human Rights and Others v United Republic of Tanzania (Application No. 019 of 2018). This case was filed on 26 July 2018 by three NGOs, namely: the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa and the Legal and Human Rights Council.

The Application challenges serious and widespread threats and violations of rights of Persons with Albinism in the Respondent State in form of discrimination, persecution, humiliation, killings and mutilations which have not been effectively prevented and/or redressed. Relatedly, Persons with Albinism in the Respondent State face socio-political challenges, which compound their difficulties in accessing adequate education, health, and other essential public services. The Applicants aver that because of these developments, the Respondent state is in violation of rights guaranteed under the African Charter, including the right to life and security of the person, the prohibition against torture, non-discrimination, and the right to an effective remedy, amongst other rights.

Accordingly, the Application implores the African Court to order the Respondent State to diligently investigate and prosecute all perpetrators, to adopt a comprehensive national strategy to determine the exact population of Persons with Albinism in the country, and to embark on a nation-wide awareness-raising campaign to dispel harmful myths and misconceptions which are the root cause of the persecution, discrimination, killings and mutilations of Persons with Albinism.

The pleadings in this case were initially closed on 30 June 2022 on account of persistent failure of the Respondent to respond to the Application despite multiple extensions of time to do so. Before this, in March 2022, the Court granted amicus curiae applications by Ms. Muluka Miti-Drummond, and Ms. Ikponwosa Ero – the current and former United Nations Independent Experts on the enjoyment of human rights the Rights of Persons with Albinism respectively – as well as that of Ms. Sarah L. Bosha, Expert on disability and health rights.

However, on 31 May 2024, the African Court reopened the pleadings. This followed the Respondent’s application filed on 29 May 2024, for extension of time to submit its response to the Application. In reopening the proceedings, the Court opined that it was in the interest of justice for the Respondent to be given a last chance to file its pleadings which would aid the Court “in a thorough consideration and determination of the matter.”

The hearing of this case reignites hopes for justice for Persons with Albinism in Tanzania who have for long endured egregious forms of human rights violations attributed to harmful cultural beliefs and practices, mostly affecting children.

The public hearing will be livestreamed at:

https://www.youtube.com/@AfricanCourtEnglishChannel/live

For more information, contact:

Sabeeha Majid
Sabeeha.majid@up.ac.za

Brian Kibirango
brian.kibirango@up.ac.za