After nearly seven years of persistent advocacy, Tanzania has made history by adopting its first-ever National Action Plan (NAP) on Albinism. The document was officially signed on December 3, 2024, during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, representing a major stride towards securing the rights and well-being of persons with albinism (PWAs) in Tanzania. Hon. Dr. Doto Mashaka Biteko, the Deputy Prime Minister, presided over the launch as the guest of honor, and development stakeholders and local partners alike were present.
To understand the significance of this achievement, we spoke with Salehe Alex, the Program Manager of the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS), a leading organization that has been at the forefront of advocacy for PWAs in Tanzania since its founding in 1978.
The Journey to the National Action Plan
Stakeholders Engagement Meeting organized by the UN Independent Expert on Albinism in January 2024 in Tanzania with the attendance and participation of the UN Resident Coordinator of Tanzania.
The advocacy journey for the NAP began in 2018, following the African Union’s (AU) call for member states to develop national action plans aligned with the Plan of Action on Albinism (2021-2031).
The Government was not fully aware of what we were demanding. If they adopted the NAP on albinism, they also knew that persons with disabilities (PWDs) would also demand a similar plan. So, we had to involve the government at every stage.
By early 2024, TAS and its partners, including Standing Voice, Beyond Inclusion, AAN, and the Human Rights Center, intensified advocacy efforts. The turning point came in April and May 2024, following two attacks on children with albinism in Geita and Kagera, regions in Northwestern Tanzania. These tragic incidents underscored the urgent need for stronger legal protections, prompting the government to take decisive action.
While the NAP is a landmark achievement, PWAs in Tanzania continue to face serious challenges, including cases of kidnappings, mutilations, and killings of PWAs which persist due to harmful superstitions; employment discrimination, where many employers assume PWAs cannot perform effectively, leading to high unemployment rates; social stigma and abandonment, such as when women who give birth to children with albinism are often abandoned by their spouses and socially ostracized by their community; skin cancer risks due to intense UV exposure and lack of access to affordable sunscreen; and education barriers, where poor vision and lack of inclusive learning materials contribute to low school retention rates.
The community of persons with albinism in Tanzania attending the historic NAP adoption event in December 2024
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| Key Commitments in the NAP |
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What’s Next?
NAP Adoption event in Dar es Salaam in December 2024
Despite this major victory, implementation remains a challenge. TAS and its partners will focus on educating local communities about the NAP and training government officials, ensuring monitoring and accountability to keep the government committed, and developing a popular version of the NAP to make it accessible for all.
We need to ensure that the government does not see this as just a document but as a commitment to protecting our community. We cannot do this alone – we need continuous collaboration.
For other albinism organizations aiming to draft their NAPs, Salehe’s advice is clear: don’t give up. He urged advocates to engage governments at every step, involve key decision-makers, and be persistent despite challenges.
Tanzania’s albinism community and its allies call for continued support from local and international stakeholders. The success of the NAP will depend on collective efforts to push for change, enforce policies, and ensure that persons with albinism can live safely, with dignity, and without fear.
About Salehe
Salehe Alex Bukanu is the Program Manager of the Tanzania Albinism Society. He is also an advocate of the High Court and subordinate courts. During his studies at Tumaini University Makumira he served as Minister of Constitution and Legal Affairs in the Student Government.
AAN Note:
AAN would like to thank the NAP committee and our funding partners for enabling us to host several national workshops and forums to contribute to this process. Thanks to all the participants and counsel, amici, and funding partners of the African court case in Arusha in September 2024. The case which was brought against the Government of Tanzania featured crucial submissions around the government’s delays in adopting the NAP and no doubt contributed to pushing adoption over the finish line.
