Witchcraft Accusations and Human Trafficking

Dear Friends:

Below you will find a link to a remarkable 2009 report entitled: Witchcraft Accusations: A Protection Concern for UNHCR and the Wider Humanitarian Community? Paper Presented by Gary Foxcroft, Programme Director, Stepping Stones Nigeria to UNHCR. (Additionally there is a link to an excerpt from a documentary on this subject).

This report is especially noteworthy. First, it discusses the rise in the phenomenon in many parts of the world but particularly portions of Africa, in which witchcraft accusations are being made against vulnerable and marginalized persons -- especially children, impoverished women, the elderly and albinos. Second, it links such accusations of witchcraft with an increased vulnerability to human trafficking and trafficking of human body parts. Third, it explains that these witchcraft accusations are often made by so-called pastors of Pentecostal revivalist movements who label children as "witches" principally for economic gain and self-aggrandizement.

Here is a passage from the report which explains the types of horrifying violence and abuse that frequently result from witchcraft accusations:

Stepping Stones Nigeria’s research has shown that widespread violations of
children’s rights are taking place on a daily basis in Akwa Ibom State due to
the belief in witchcraft. Suspected child ‘witches’ have been found by Stepping
Stones Nigeria to have been abandoned by their parents/ guardians, taken to the
forest and slaughtered, bathed in acid, burned alive, poisoned to death with a
local poison berry, buried alive, drowned or imprisoned and tortured in churches
in order to extract a “confession”. Children who have some form of disability or
unique character trait such as erratic behaviour, bedwetting or epilepsy are
especially vulnerable to witchcraft accusations. The vast majority of children
accused of witchcraft are orphans of at least one parent and many have been
accused of witchcraft when the surviving parent remarries and the incoming
spouse does not wish to support the children of the previous partner.

This phenomenon is incredibly tragic. The violence and abuse perpetrated against those accused of witchcraft is horrifying in and of itself. It is all the more appalling that this abuse is happening in some cases at urging or the hands of supposed religious leaders who affiliate themselves with Christianity.

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that witchcraft does not exist or that there are not actual witches and warlocks. Christianity acknowledges that there are demons, demon possession, and that sorcery exists. What I am saying, is that Christianity in no way endorses rituals of abuse and torture to be carried out on those alleged to be witches, and in no way tolerates the abuse of torture of persons -- most especially children.

Thus, this report is most certainly a must read for leaders of Christian denominations, ministries, and parachurch groups. Every effort must be made by the church to root out persons who carry out such heinous acts in the name of the Christian faith. Moreover, we should all do everything in our power to prevent the spread of this phenomenon and to assist those at risk or already harmed by these dreadful practices.

Action item: Please forward this email to your religious leader, and pray, pray, pray!

Abolition!

Lisa

Report: http://www.steppingstonesnigeria.org/files/UN_doc.pdfVideo excerpt from Saving Africa's Witch Children: http://www.strimoo.com/video/15806468/Saving-Africa-s-Witch-Children-Veoh.html