OpenForum – a blog by the Health and Human Rights community

There is a growing trend around the world of children being accused of witchcraft. Once accused of witchcraft, a child is punished, beaten, starved and sometimes killed to “cleanse” her or him of supposed magical powers. What is pushing the trend?

The UNHCR report Witchcraft allegations, refugee protection and human rights: a review of the evidence points out that witchcraft provides an answer to the question “why me?” when misfortune strikes. Unfortunately for many areas in Africa and elsewhere in the world, misfortune seems to be striking with vengeance. Particularly in countries where the people have been scarred by war, famine, economic collapse, death, and HIV infections, there are many “why me?” questions to be answered. As Father Horácio Caballero, director of a shelter that cares for children accused of witchery in Angola, says, “when AIDS begins to kill, someone in the family gets blamed for it.” Other children in Angola have been accused of transforming into animals and eating crops at night. Yet scientific analysis found that late rains had caused poor crop yield during that period.

Some common traits in children accused to have witchcraft are: stubbornness, learning disabilities, physical disabilities such as epilepsy, unruly behavior and not taking school seriously. Many of these traits deemed “witch-like” are usually considered normal adolescent behavior in the West. Children suffering from disease such as AIDS and malaria are also prime targets of witchcraft accusations.

While Father Caballero demonstrates the concern many clergy have to protect children from such accusations, not all religious and spiritual leaders share his understanding. Clergy play a large role in advising communities and families on which children are involved in sorcery. Children exhibiting traits as mentioned above are often brought to the local pastor or village healers for diagnosis. Arnold Mushiete, a social worker helping children accused of witchcraft in Kinshasa, Congo suggests that in a culture of death and broken family units, parents are very easy prey for greedy, ruthless clergy.

Religious and spiritual leaders may blame economic problems and health issues on the family’s weakest members. Sometimes clergy or healers are paid to perform exorcisms or “deliverance” ceremonies, thus increasing the incentive to “identify” witches in the family. Some pastors charge up to US$50 in Congo, which is an exorbitant fee considering the average annual salary is US$100. Save the Children’s The Invention of Child Witches in the Democratic of Congo report found that revitalized churches operate on a profit-making basis and will practice exorcism for financial gain.

Many children are often abandoned on the streets. Save the Children estimated that 70 percent of the 15,000 street children in Kinshasa have been accused of witchcraft.  Unfortunately, witchcraft has also been used as a pretext for abandoning unwanted children. Girls accused of witchcraft and abandoned face particularly horrific fates. Without protection, they are often raped and forced into prostitution.

Movements for banning the practice of condemning a child to witch craft are growing but still few. Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria has added a new clause to the Child Rights act, sentencing anyone found guilty of branding a child a witch to up to 12 years in prison. During his visit around Africa, the pope also spoke out against the practice of witchcraft and the use of Christ name to justify violence against children. Recently, videos documenting the plight of children accused of witchcraft have been released. To protect children from such severe human rights violations, more education of the population and government enforcement of child protection are needed.