The UN Independent Expert on Albinism has called attacks in Tanzania "abhorrent", urging authorities to prosecute those responsible and protect at-risk communities.
A pattern of violent attacks against people with albinism in Tanzania has drawn a formal condemnation from the United Nations.
Nivi Pillay, the UN Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Persons with Albinism, described the attacks as "abhorrent", according to a statement published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Pillay called on Tanzanian authorities to investigate each case thoroughly and bring perpetrators to justice.
The attacks are connected to a long-standing demand for body parts of people with albinism, which certain practitioners of ritual medicine believe carry protective or wealth-generating properties. The OHCHR has previously documented that this demand drives targeted killings and mutilations across several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Tanzania among the most affected.
Pillay's statement urged the Tanzanian government to strengthen legal protections and ensure that people with albinism living in rural areas — where access to law enforcement is limited — are not left without recourse. The expert also called for sustained public education to challenge the beliefs that fuel the attacks, according to the OHCHR release.
Tanzania has recorded more documented cases of attacks against people with albinism than any other country, according to data compiled by the advocacy organisation Under the Same Sun. Prosecutions have taken place, but human rights monitors say enforcement remains inconsistent and that fear continues to shape daily life for many families.
The Independent Expert role was established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2015. It operates independently of any government and reports directly to the Council and the General Assembly.
Keywords
Core topics and entities mentioned in this summary.