Reparative Justice Reimagined: A Landmark Victory for Persons with Albinism in Africa

By Michael Gyan Nyarko, Deputy Executive Director, Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA)

On 5 February 2025, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights delivered a landmark judgment in Centre for Human Rights, Institute for Human Rights and Development in African, and Legal and Human Rights Centre (on behalf of persons with albinism) v. Tanzania (Application No. 019/2018), significantly advancing the African human rights system’s jurisprudence on reparations. This historic ruling marks a transformative moment for the continent’s approach to human rights accountability and redress in relation to vulnerable and historically marginalised populations like persons with albinism (PWAs).

The decision affirms the dignity, inclusion, and visibility of PWAs. The Court went beyond declaratory relief, adopting a reparations framework that is comprehensive, victim-centred, and structurally transformative. In doing so, it reaffirmed that justice must extend beyond the courtroom, into the societal structures and cultural beliefs that sustain discrimination and violence. For instance, the Court ordered sweeping structural reforms: legislative amendments to classify crimes against PWAs as hate crimes; the establishment of a dedicated national fund for advocacy and services designed with meaningful participation from PWAs; and the implementation of robust institutional mechanisms aimed at rehabilitation and guarantees of non-repetition.

Crucially, the judgment addressed the root causes of violence against PWAs, notably the harmful superstitions and deeply entrenched societal myths. In response, the Court mandated public sensitisation campaigns and the training of law enforcement and judicial officers. These preventive strategies reflect the Court’s commitment to reparations that are not only restorative but also transformative – focused on preventing recurrence and rebuilding trust between state institutions and marginalised communities. Of particular note is the Court’s attention to intersectional discrimination, recognising vulnerability factors in children and women, awarding differential reparation measures.

For IHRDA and our partners, this victory is a testament to the enduring power of collaboration and legal advocacy. Yet, it also serves as a call to action. True justice lies not only in the ruling itself, but in its faithful implementation, robust monitoring, and continued solidarity. Until every person with albinism across Africa can live free from fear and discrimination, our work must continue. This ruling is not merely a conclusion. It is a new beginning – one that reimagines reparative justice as a vehicle for dignity, empowerment, and transformative change.

This article was first published in the Community Corner of our Just Reparation newsletter. These contributions are invaluable in enriching our collective understanding and fostering meaningful dialogue within the reparation community of practice. If you would like to be featured, we encourage you to submit your contributions to [email protected].