Government Reports: Children

“Roots, Realities and Responses” An intimate paper focused on the lessons learnt in tackling Witchcraft allegations against Children (Available here…)

SCWA Report – 2017 launch edition final

2017 as part of the Stop Child Witch Allegation series.

The worst forms of child labor in Congo, 2011

Ghana – Operational guidance note, November 2013

This document provides Home Office caseworkers with guidance on the nature and handling of the most common types of claims received from nationals/residents of Ghana, including whether claims are or are not likely to justify the granting of asylum, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave. Caseworkers must refer to the relevant Asylum Instructions for further details of the policy on these areas.

See full report here

Nepal: CEDAW 4th and 5th combined periodic reports

Nepal has submitted its Initial Report in 1997 and Second and Third Combined Report in 2003. This Fourth and Fifth Combined Periodic Report covers the period up to 2008. During this period Nepal has made significant progress in the sphere of protection to, promotion and fulfillment of the rights emanated from the CEDAW. Nepal has ratified Optional Protocol to the CEDAW. It has incorporated many significant provisions in the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007 and enacted many valuable legislations such as the Domestic Violence (Crime and Punishment) Act, the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, National Women Commission Act, the Citizenship Act, An Act to Amend some Nepalese Acts to Maintain Gender Equalities, An Act to Amend some Nepalese Acts relating to the Court Management and Administration of Justice and 11th Amendment of the Country Code. Accordingly many rules are framed and plans, action plans and programmes are being implemented. To read full report click here

Nepal: A Study on Gender-Based Violence Conducted in Selected Rural Districts of Nepal

Violence Against Women occurs in all societies and at any stage of a woman’s lifecycle. It can even occur before a girl is born through sexselective abortion and menace women throughout their old age. Some types of VAW such as sexual violence and domestic violence, occur in all cultures, although they are more common in some than others. Girls and women in Nepal are exposed to a variety of forms of violence, many of which are suffered by women globally, and others that are seen more commonly in Nepal than elsewhere. The latter includes punishment for witchcraft (Boxi). To read more click here

Nigeria: Prevalence of ritual murder and human sacrifice; police and state response (2009-2012)

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada publication. Read report here 

Uganda: Rapid Assessment on child sacrifice in Uganda

The rapid assessment was commissioned to document the nature and magnitude of the practice in Uganda and to review existing responses by different actors to inform the process of developing a National Action Plan. The study also attempted to examine the relationship between child trafficking and the practice of child sacrifice and explored other related risk factors. Among several conclusions, this research argues that although sacrifice is a common phenomenon within African indigenous religions and cultural practices and constitutes an important part of worship, prayers and thanksgiving, there was consensus that child and/or human sacrifice is a new phenomenon which is not necessarily linked to indigenous/traditional religious worship and cultural practice. See full report here.

UK. Government Launches National Action Plan to Tackle Child Abuse Linked To Faith and Belief

The Department for Education released this national action plan to help raise awareness of the issue of child abuse linked to faith or belief and to encourage practical steps to be taken to prevent such abuse. It has been developed through partnership on the National Working Group between central government and local statutory partners, faith leaders, voluntary sector organisations and the Metropolitan Police. See full details here 

DRC: “Child witches”, child soldiers, child poverty and violence: Street children in crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo – Report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Street Children

The APPG found that unemployment and lack of income generating opportunities have stretched the capacities of households to function as viable economic units. Divorce is increasingly common. Many children find themselves in the care of their extended family. But the extended family system is increasingly strained and unable to bare this burden and so many children end up working on the streets. Those children with step-parents are often marginalised in order to create the social and economic space to
ensure support for step-brothers and sisters. Increasingly, HIV/AIDS will result in the death of both parents, leaving children with the extended family, which is rarely able to care for them.
A lack of access to education and confined social and political space for women limits their capacity to generate income and protect their children. Within this frame, fetish pastors have established thousands of private churches throughout the major cities. These fetish pastors regularly accuse children, whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS, of witchcraft. Fees will be paid for an exorcism that will often see the child tortured (beatings, mutilation and starvation) by the fetish pastor. In part, this is enabled by a widespread
and deep-seated belief in witchcraft, which makes carers vulnerable to exploitation by fetish pastors. The accusation of sorcery and witchcraft is the single largest factor resulting in children being pushed out of their families onto the streets. Click here for full report.

UK – Child Abuse Linked to Accusations of “Possession” and “Witchcraft”

This report concerns the frequency and severity of child abuse linked to accusations of “possession” and “witchcraft”. It identifies key features common to these cases, draws conclusions and makes recommendations.