February 5, 2025
Today, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights delivered a historic judgment in Centre for Human Rights and Others v. United Republic of Tanzania (App. No. 019/2018), affirming the fundamental rights of persons with albinism. This case challenged years of discrimination, deadly attacks, and systemic neglect in access to essential services in Tanzania.
Sarah L. Bosha from the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law was part of the legal team that submitted the amicus curiae brief underscoring the right to health — including access to essential medicines like sunscreen and skin cancer treatment — as a core human rights issue. The Court’s decision establishes a key precedent for all African nations, reinforcing their obligations to protect the safety, dignity, and well-being of persons with albinism.
Bosha stated, “This ruling marks a historic win for persons with albinism and for the right to health within the African system. While this ruling is a major step forward to protecting the community’s rights, there is still more work to be done.”
In their amicus brief, Bosha and other experts called for concrete government action to address health care barriers for the community, such as ensuring free sunscreen as an essential medicine and providing routine skin cancer screening. The Court recognized that discriminatory barriers in health care are a violation of human rights and ordered Tanzania to take measures to ensure the enjoyment of the best attainable standard of health.
The amici are grateful to the incredible research support of Adi Radhakrishnan, a legal fellow at the O’Neill Institute, and Nadia Mutusi, a former health law intern at the O’Neill Institute. This judgment is a celebration for all of the albinism rights advocates across the African Union who have fought tirelessly for this moment.