They are petitioning the Court for legal guarantees of protection to ensure PWA enjoy the full spectrum of rights enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. These include the right to life, freedom from torture and inhuman treatment and the right to non-discrimination and effective remedy. In his opening statement, counsel Fulgence Massawe, representing the applicants, criticised the government’s prolonged inaction despite years of awareness about the severe threats faced by the albinism community in Tanzania. “This failure constitutes violations of multiple rights under the African Charter, including the right to life, protection from torture, non-discrimination and the right to an effective remedy,” argued counsel Massawe, before the panel of ten justices presided over by African Court Vice President, Judge Sacko Modibo. The applicants further prayed that the Tanzanian government be held accountable for its inaction and called for thorough investigations, the prosecution of perpetrators and concrete measures to prevent further violence against persons with albinism. The legal proceedings date back to July 2018 when the case was first filed. Despite the allegations, the Tanzanian government failed to respond to the accusations, leading to the closure of pleadings on June 30, 2022. The Court reopened the proceedings on May 31, 2024, after the Respondent requested additional time to submit its defense. The Court stated that this extension was granted in the interest of justice, offering the government a final opportunity to present its case before the bench. A judgment date will be announced after the conclusion of the Court’s deliberations.
