Posts by whrin_admin

Witchcraft belief and accusations against children in Sub-Saharan Africa

Belief in witchcraft is widespread across the African continent. Recently, attention has been drawn to the relatively new phenomenon of witchcraft accusations against children, leading to punishment that severely violates their human rights. Analysing the recommendations made by NGOs and United Nations organs regarding this issue, the author argues that they neglect a normative conflict between cultural belief and human rights as well as lacks philosophical depth. The following article presents, clarifies and discusses the normative problem surrounding the phenomenon of witchcraft belief and accusations against children from a theoretical perspective, in order to facilitate an in-depth understanding of the issue in a wider context of moral values as well as improve the possibilities for successful prevention strategies. Universalism and cultural relativism is presented and discussed, as well as the indeterminacy of human rights. Ultimately, the conclusion states the choice between treating a child as an individual or as a part of the community an important normative consideration, however the main normative problem is found within universalism in the form of conflicting human rights. See the full article:  witchcraft belief and accusations against children in sub-saharan africa

Witch-hunts in modern Africa and early modern Europe: A comparison

Belief in witchcraft is found across the world and in some societies alleged witches are persecuted and killed. This article explores the rise of false accusations of witchcraft and the resultant killings in South Africa in the last three decades; as many as 20 000 may have died between 2004 and 2008. The article considers these lynching’s in the light of killings associated with witch-hunts in Europe (1450–1750) focusing on the witch-hunts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In many cases, people’s credulity is abused by those who accuse others of practising witchcraft. The accusers often stand to gain in some way and exploit the vulnerability of those they accuse. This article explores witch hunts as a reaction to disaster as related to gender bias and relational problems. It shows that such persecution is difficult to control with social institutions; it is a self propagating discourse with potentially tragic results for the victims. See the full article here: witchhunts in modern africa and early modern europe

Condemned without trial: Women and Witches in Ghana

A report conducted by Action Aid in response to the Ghanaian Governments announcement of their intention to close all witch camps. The report looks into the conditions of the camps, and provides recommendations regarding how to safely reintegrate alleged witches back into society. See the full report here: Condemned without trial, Women and witches in Ghana

Central African Republic: ‘Penis-Snatching’ Case Startles Visitor in Africa

Louisa Lombard recounts her visit to the village of Tiringoulou in the Central African Republic, where two villagers said their genitals had been stolen. Read more here.

Gabon: Raelian Guide accused of witchcraft and jailed while on mission to demystify supernatural beliefs

Accused of practicing witchcraft and magic, Raelian Guide Jean Rene Ogoula Ale was arrested and jailed on February 27 in Franceville, Gabon. Read more here.

India: Raped by ‘witch doctor’, woman jumps into well

A man who claimed to be a witch doctor was arrested in Rajasthan after a 25-year-old woman accused him of raping her and then committed suicide, police said. Read more here.

Onwards and upwards

Well, we are making some steady progress with developing WHRIN and our capacity to carry out our much needed work. Some great news came in last week when we were informed that we had be given an our first ever award by UnLtd in recognition of the good work we have been doing and the great potential that we have as a social enterprise. So a big and massive THANK YOU to all at UnLtd for showing such faith in WHRIN’s work. Please see here for more details about UnLtd.

Also since our last blog post WHRIN has received it’s first bit of UK publicity in the Lancaster Guardian no less! Please click here to see it.

We have also issued our first press release in response to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ recent statement on the plight of albinos killed for their body parts in Tanzania. You can see coverage of the press release here

WHRIN board member – Louise Meincke – has been spreading the word about our work in the corridors of power at the UN in Geneva and we have received some encouraging feedback about our work from various people. As WHRIN grows and develops over the coming months we will be looking at how we can best support local groups around the world to better engage with the UN. Watch this space for more details!

Alabama: Relatives: Gadsden child’s slaying may be ritual

Relatives of a slain Alabama toddler said the girl’s killing may have been a sacrificial ritual by her father, who is charged with capital murder in the child’s death. Read more here.

Nigeria: Man nails his children to plank in Calabar, accuses them of witchcraft

 A forty-year-old man, John Friday Akpan, from Akwa Ibom State but resident in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, is now explaining to the police how he allegedly heeded the advice of a herbalist, one DrOkokon, and tagged his two children, Elisha Udobong and Esther, as witches. Read more here.

Congo: A cruel tradition in Congo: When kids die, witch-hunts target parents

Yves Ibama was 14 years old when he was taken from his parents suddenly, after a short illness. On Buzala Avenue, in the densely populated town of Disasi where the wake is being held, everyone is uncharacteristically serene. Usually, young hoodlums heckle the adults and accuse them of being sorcerers who “eat the body of the deceased.” Read more here.