Tanzanian authorities have charged four people in connection with the murder of a person with albinism, as pressure grows for stronger protections.
A court in Tanzania has charged four people in connection with the killing of a person with albinism, Reuters reported. The charges follow sustained pressure from rights groups demanding that the government take more consistent legal action against such attacks.
Tanzania has long been identified as one of the countries where people with albinism face the highest risk of targeted violence, according to the United Nations. Attacks are frequently linked to the trade in body parts, which some practitioners of ritual medicine falsely believe carry properties that bring wealth or good fortune.
The UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism has repeatedly called on Tanzania and neighbouring states to prosecute perpetrators to the full extent of the law, and to address the demand side of the trade — the networks of witch doctors and clients who commission attacks.
Reuters did not publish the names of the accused or the victim in its report. The location of the alleged killing and the specific charges filed were also not detailed in the available summary.
Prosecutions in Tanzania have increased in recent years, though human rights organisations including Under the Same Sun have noted that convictions do not always result in sentences proportionate to the severity of the crime. Families of victims have described lengthy legal processes and, at times, community pressure that discourages witnesses from testifying.
The UN estimates that at least 75 people with albinism have been killed in Tanzania since 2000, though advocates say the true number is likely higher due to underreporting in rural areas.
Charging four individuals in a single case is a notable step. Whether it signals a broader shift in enforcement, or remains an isolated prosecution, will depend on what follows in court.
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