Calls grow for action plan to protect people with albinism in Tanzania
The Under the Same Sun (UTSS) chief executive officer, Mr Peter Ash, participates in the funeral of a child with albinism, Asimwe Nobath (2), who was recently kidnapped and killed in Kagera Region. The group’s vulnerability has forced rights groups to file a case at the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights demanding accountability from the Tanzanian government. PHOTO|COURTERSY
What you need to know:
- The African Albinism Network (AAN) executive director, Ikponwosa Ero, criticises Tanzania for its delay in endorsing the NAP, despite having a significantly larger population of people with albinism compared to other countries in the region.
Arusha. Rights groups have called on the Tanzanian government to endorse the country's National Action Plan (NAP) for persons living with albinism to address the protection and discrimination challenges faced by the group.
They were speaking on September 13, 2024, during a joint press conference aimed at highlighting different challenges facing people with albinism in the country.
The African Albinism Network (AAN) executive director, Ms Ikponwosa Ero, said the 2019 data indicates that Kenya had around 10,000 people with albinism and the country had allocated $1 million for the group.
“But with eight times the number of persons with albinism, Tanzania is still dragging its feet in endorsing the country’s National Action Plan for persons with albinism,” she said.
Ms Ero said only seven countries on the African continent have endorsed their national action plans, including Angola, which came up with its plan after attending a conference in Tanzania, yet the latter doesn’t have the document.
She named other countries with the document as Kenya, Malawi, Togo, and Mozambique, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Africa have theirs stuck in draft stages.
The Under the Same Sun (UTSS) chief executive officer, Mr Peter Ash, said the organisation has filed a case at the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights demanding significant improvements in the right to health.
He said particular improvement is required in the prevention of skin cancer and enhanced educational support through the provision of essential tools such as monoculars to people with albinism.
"Also we call for increased government efforts to de-stigmatise albinism and the adoption of a national action plan to address protection and discrimination issues,” he said.
Mr Ash said the latest census shows the total number of persons with albinism in Tanzania was estimated to surpass 75,000, meaning the country has seven times more people with albinism than Kenya.
Meanwhile, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights has continued listening to case number 019 of 2018 filed by rights groups alleging the Tanzanian government for failure to protect people with albinism.
The applicants are the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa, and the Legal and Human Rights Centre.
They allege the presence of incidents of violations of the rights of persons with albinism in the territory of the United Republic of Tanzania, including their harassment and humiliation, in particular, through attacks, killings, and mutilations.
The applicants are represented by a team of three lawyers, including advocate Fulgence Massawe, Michael Nyarko, and Chipo Rushiwaya.
The respondent is represented by state attorneys: Hangi Chang’a, Daniel Nyakiha, Mr Vivian Method, and Narindwa Sekimanga.
Three witnesses, all being persons with albinism and victims of violations, have submitted their testimony before a panel of nine judges led by the Court’s Malian Vice President Justice Sacko Modibo.
On the respondent side, the deputy director of constitutional affairs, human rights, and elections at the African Court, state attorney Daniel Nyakiha, told journalists outside the court that they had four witnesses in the matter.
“There were allegations that the government had sidelined persons with albinism in terms of education and employment. But we have provided evidence that the state has been prioritising the welfare of people with disabilities, including those living with albinism,” he said.
Regarding assaults members of the group were facing, Mr Nyakiha said many suspects have been convicted after court procedures.
Speaking outside the court, advocate Masawe said the case aimed at intercepting the just-ignored incidents of attacks, violations, and killings against people with albinism.
“The court has finally started to address the matter after six years because our clients are accusing the government of Tanzania of failing to protect them, especially due to the recurrence of the incidents,” he said.
