WHRIN at the United Nations

We were delighted to launch our report - 21st Century Witchcraft Accusations and Persecution: 2013 Global Report - at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this week. To establish an idea of the global spread of the various spiritual beliefs that result in violations of human rights, WHRIN monitored online media reports in 2013 of cases of abuse and the interventions that have been carried out by governments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and human rights activists. WHRIN believes that this report may represent the first systematic attempt to assess the scale of the problem worldwide and responses to it. Special thanks goes to Lois Herman at the Women's UN Report Network for arranging the side event at the UN and providing WHRIN with a platform to share the report findings.

Please do read the report and share with anyone who you feel has a stake in these issues. We very much appreciate your ongoing support as we worked to further raise awareness of these horrific human rights abuses and strive to support the development of solutions.

WHRIN Launches Report to UN – 21st Century Witchcraft Accusations and Persecution
March 11, 2014
Geneva, March 10th 2014 – WHRIN launches what may be the first ever report into the global scale of witchcraft accusations and persecution,
muti killings and human sacrifice at the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

See more: http://www.whrin.org/wh ... persecution/

Full report here: http://www.whrin.org/wp ... ll-FINAL.pdf
CONTENTS PAGE
Introduction P 1
Organisational Background P 1
Understanding Terminology P1 - 2
Witchcraft Accusations and Persecution (WAP)
What is witchcraft?
What is a witch?
What is spirit possession?
What is juju?
What is muti?
What is human sacrifice?
Study of the Global Situation P3 - 6
The Study
Findings
Witchcraft Accusations and Persecution (WAP)
Murder to Obtain ‘Magical’ Ingredients
Human Sacrifice
Persecution of Human Rights Defenders
Promising Practices P6 – 8
Christian Responses
Pagan Responses
Humanist Responses
Government Response
Community and NGO Responses
Conclusions P8-9
Recommendations P9

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WHRIN

Accusations and Persecution in Nepal: 2014 Country Report Launched
WHRIN have posted a country report about NEPAL:

http://www.whrin.org/wp ... rt_FINAL.pdf

WHRIN Mail Winter Update

Firstly, let us thank you all for your support and engagement in 2014. It has been a great year for WHRIN and, looking back, it is amazing to see what the organisation has achieved. The year witnessed us releasing our first ever reports at the UN Human Rights Council and in Nepal. We were also humbled to be invited by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to present at an expert meeting on on persons with albinism: violence, discrimination and way forward.

In the UK, WHRIN's training course has been delivered to over 300 front-line practitioners, with increasing numbers of Local Safeguarding Children Boards seeking this service. Recent reports in the UK suggest abuse linked to belief in witchcraft is on the rise. Our expert witness report services have also been in high demand and we have assisted 9 asylum cases this year.

However, whilst our small team continues to work hard to "light fires in the darkness", it is the work of the diverse people that make up our network that inspires us the most. Below you will see some updates from around the world to provide hope that 2015 will see more progress being made to put a stop to the widespread human rights violations that continue to scar the world due to beliefs in witchcraft, spirit possession and other malevolent beliefs. You will also see details of our "Heroes and Heroines of 2014" to whom we take our hat off to and offer our fullest of thanks and respect to for all that they are doing to bring about positive change...

Wishing one and all a very peaceful and happy 2015.

http://www.whrin.org/mission/

WHRIN, in Partnership with Aya Distribution and Under the Same Sun,
Warmly Invite you to UK Premiere

In recent years People with Albinism (PWA) have become a commodity across many parts of Africa – human targets of a lucrative and sinister trade. Witch ddoctors offer thousands of dollars for their body parts which are believed to bring good fortune, prosperity and the ability to cure any illness. As a result, Tanzanian PWA, including children, have been murdered by gangs of men who hack off arms, legs or genitals.

White Shadow, set in Tanzania and directed by Noaz Deshe, tells the story behind the headlines of the persecution of PWA in Tanzania, through a captivating narrative this fictional piece takes us inside the life of a young PWA, The film has won numerous awards at festivals across the world including Venice Critics Week and Seattle International Film Festival. It has been highly acclaimed by film directors such as Francis Ford Coppola who describes the film as â€˜Timeless, haunting, horrific, beautifulâ€™.

WHRIN member, Under the Same Sun, has been leading the fight to put a stop to this practice and has recorded significant success recently with the UN Human Rights Council adopting a special resolution to prevent attacks on PWA and announcing an historic International Albinism Awareness day (13th June 2015).

Event Details:
7.30 PM - Drinks Reception with Director, Noaz Deshe, Lead Actor, Hamisi Bazili, Under the Same Sun International Advocacy Officer, I. K Ero and WHRIN Executive Director, Gary Foxcroft.

8.30 PM - Screening of White Shadow

10PM - Q & A Session

Venue: The Tricycle Theare, 269 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 7JR

Tickets are Â£10 and available on the door or on line here: http://www.tricycle.co. ... hite-shadow/

http://www.underthesamesun.com/

Deference to faith is preventing effective challenges to the “horror” of witchcraft accusations and persecution
Posted: Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:29

The Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN) has warned that "considerable reluctance" to intervene in people's faith is preventing an effective response to suffering caused by witchcraft accusations.

WHRIN, which campaigns for a "world where all people can live freely without fear of their rights being abused due to the belief in witchcraft", urges serious consideration for the suffering caused by witchcraft accusations and persecution (WAP) and warns that the issue has "slid beneath the radar."

They write of how "women accused of witchcraft are beaten to death in India, mutilated in South Africa and Uganda, and burned alive in Papua New Guinea, while elderly women die in their burning houses in Kenya. Small children and even babies may be subjected to cruel treatment and violence because of these misguided beliefs."

In a written statement to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Gary Foxcroft, executive director of WHRIN, warns that the killing of women for witchcraft "has not be consigned to the history books" and urges more research into the problem to establish its scope and how many women are effected by WAP.

Mr Foxcroft writes that "there appears to be considerable reluctance to intervene in areas that impinge on people's faith" and notes that "many in the international community fear being seen as contravening Article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights" which guarantees freedom of religion and belief. However, he argues, "there must be greater understanding that this right does not supersede other human rights, such as the right to life."

WHRIN compares the approach to witchcraft accusations and persecution with female genital mutilation (FGM) and other forms of gender-based violence which are perceived to be related to religious or cultural beliefs and argues that persecution because of beliefs about witchcraft has been neglected.

WHRIN are contributing to the growing research in this field and have challenged the assumption that such practices are exclusive to any particular country or culture. In 2012 the Metropolitan Police warned that children believed to be possessed by evil spirits or believed to be witches are at "clear and immediate risk of significant harm".

The group has called on the UN to "do more to understand why these abuses are still taking place, why so little is being done to stop them and why governments, UN bodies, NGOs and faith groups remain unaware and unresponsive" and urges for "concerted pressure on governments, UN agencies, faith leaders, and civil society to ensure that the current scourge of WAP does not to continue."

Read the full WHRIN statement to the UN Commission on the Status of Women here.
http://www.whrin.org/un ... tions-panel/

See full article: http://www.secularism.o ... -persecution

Witchcraft Accusations and Persecution; Muti Murders and Human Sacrifice::Harmful Beliefs and Practices Behind a Global Crisis in Human Rights
October 2017

This report was specifically compiled for the United Nations Expert Workshop on Witchcraft and Human Rights, in Geneva on 21st and 22nd September 2017.

The report outlines a study of all recorded online cases of human rights abuses linked to beliefs in witchcraft, muti and human sacrifice in 2016. It aims to provide some background understanding into the work carried out by the United Nations on these issues to date; outline the current scale of the abuses of human rights that are taking place across the world due such harmful beliefs and practices; identify emerging trends and, finally, act as a call to action for all UN, Government and civil society agencies working on these issues to redouble their efforts to develop solutions to prevent further abuses from taking place.

Full report here: http://www.whrin.org/wp ... RT-final.pdf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WHRIN

Witchcraft Research Archives Published

Prof. Norman Miller from Dartmouth University in USA has published a collection of materials and studies from his life and work researching the environment, global health and human rights issues in eastern Africa and beyond. In the last decade, he has concentrated much of his work on contemporary issues surrounding human rights, witchcraft and witch-hunting violence in Africa.

This website allows you to view a selection of archive materials and aims to provide a scholarly resource as well as an introduction to the many historical documents and artifacts. This is an ongoing project and more articles will be added in the future. You can access the Norman Miller Archive for free HERE
Also: https://normanmillerarchive.com/human-rights/

WHRIN are still active

http://www.whrin.org/

Check out their website for up-to-date information

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WHRIN

Support the Witch Way Forward Campaign

http://www.whrin.org/witch-way-forward/

You tube: https://www.youtube.com ... =aO08kruH6WI
Gary Foxcroft
Innocent people are being hunted, tortured and killed every day due to harmful practices related to manifestations of beliefs in witchcraft (HPW). This is not the 16th century. It needs to stop. Now! Please sign the petition - www.whrin.org/witch-way-forward

I have participated in this webinar. It was very interesting.
I'll post links to any recorded sessions later.... Morgana

Webinar – Public Health and Witchcraft Beliefs
June 8, 2020

You are invited to join us in an exciting new project that looks to explore the understandings of public health conditions and ‘witchcraft’ beliefs. This is with a view to developing a toolkit that could help practitioners and communities demystify the common public health conditions considered as signs of ‘witchcraft’.

This is part of the wider work that WHRIN has been working on with Lancaster University and the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Ms. Ikponwosa Ero. It looks to implement some of the key recommendations from the 2017 Expert workshop on witchcraft and human rights, at the UN in Geneva. The report from which highlighted how widespread abuses of human rights across the world are due to harmful practices related to abuse of belief in witchcraft which are ‘fuelled by misbeliefs in supernatural powers and misconception of public health issues’.

We would like to invite you to be part of the next stage of development of this work and participate in the webinar on 17th June 2020 (see poster below). Please register at events::at::whrin.org.

https://www.facebook.com/WHRIN/

https://www.whrin.org/w ... pkarFfBmKaFk

Extracts from this film were shown during the webinar:

AFRICAN WITCHFINDER - Full Film (2018)
A Namibian pastor faces a deadly mix of ancient culture, fear, and superstition as he embarks on a mission to prevent innocent people from being drugged,
chained and murdered in a campaign for the freedom of the mentally ill.

Directed and Produced by Mally Graveson & Toby Trueman
Edited by Drew Gibson
Director of Photography Toby Trueman
Sound Design Jonathan Worman

cloudbreakpictures. com/african-witchfinder | alzheimersdementianamibia. wordpress. com

https://vimeo.com/360739809

UN Council adopts Historic Resolution Condemning Harmful Practices Related to Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks
By Manny Tejeda-Moreno | July 28, 2021

Editorial Note: TWH uses quotations on “witches, ” “witchcraft, ” and “witch-hunt” to denote there appears no association with modern Pagan or Witchcraft practices. The victims of “witch-hunts” are usually not Pagans, Witches, or practicing any spiritual practice typically considered Pagan.

Note: Star Bustamonte contributed to this article.

GENEVA – The Human Rights Council of the United Nations adopted the charter for the “Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks. ” The adoption occurred during the forty-seventh session of the Council in a draft resolution sponsored by Cameroon on “behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States. ”

The resolution condemns the harmful practices associated with accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks (HPAWR). It also comes just a little over a year after the murder of 90-year-old, Akua Denteh in Ghana drew global attention to “witch-hunts” in mostly developing nations.

The adoption of the resolution comes after years of advocacy. In 2014, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs noted that “witchcraft accusations that are used to justify extreme violence against older women are reported in 41 African and Asian countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, India, Kenya, Malawi, Nepal and Tanzania. Older widows are often those most at risk. ”

The report noted that “Older women are at particular risk due to widespread discriminatory attitudes and practices, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in his message on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. I call on Member States to enact and enforce stronger laws and strategies to address all aspects of this under-acknowledged social, public health and human rights issue. ”

Conferences organized by UN experts on witchcraft and Human Rights were held on the issue of witchcraft assaults in 2017 and 2019. The conferences focused attention on the many attacks and murders perpetrated with witchcraft as a motivation and noted:

“In numerous countries around the world, witchcraft-related beliefs and practices have resulted in serious violations of human rights including, beatings, banishment, cutting of body parts, and amputation of limbs, torture, and murder. Women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities particularly persons with albinism, are particularly vulnerable. Despite the seriousness of these human rights abuses, there is often no robust state-led response. Often judicial systems do not act to prevent, investigate or prosecute human rights abuses linked to beliefs in witchcraft. This institutional failure perpetuates impunity. ”

The human rights abuses are the result of weak justice and security as well as poverty inadequate access to healthcare and information. Religious profiteering is also a motivation. Women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities including conditions such as dementia, epilepsy, and albinism have been targets of the Harmful Practices Related to Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks (HPAWR).

HPWAR attacks are wide-ranging and can impact families and communities. They can include isolation and exploitation but include human trafficking, murders for body parts, grave-robbing, and mutilations.

SAPRA/ The South African Pagan Rights Alliance issued the following statement regarding the announcement of the resolution:
The United Nations Human Rights Council’s draft resolution 47 entitled “Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks” finally, although indirectly only, acknowledges that Witchcraft is not the mischief requiring regulation or prohibition. The draft correctly identifies the true harm; the human rights abuses which flow from accusations of witchcraft.

The South African Pagan Rights Alliance is pleased that point 6 of the draft has emphasised that “States should carefully distinguish between harmful practices amounting to human rights violations related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, and the lawful and legitimate exercise of different kinds of religion or beliefs, in order to preserve the right to freely manifest a religion or a belief, individually or in a community with others, including for persons belonging to religious minorities”.

This clause affirms the right of Witches to freedom of religion. The right to freedom of religion is already a Constitutionally protected right in South African law.

The South African Pagan Rights Alliance will be forwarding the draft resolution to the South African Law Reform Commission, and to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.

We trust that international consensus on this issue will persuade the Law Reform Commission to revisit it’s hesitancy to recommend that the Legislature set aside the Witchcraft Suppression Act as clearly inconsistent with both Constitutional and International law.

This Alliance would like to extend its gratitude to Gary Foxcroft, the Executive Director of the Witchcraft & Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN), for allowing the South African Pagan Rights Alliance to contribute to this momentous and important achievement as a participating member of WHRIN.

The Wild Hunt previously reported on the United National resolutions the workshops and produced a series on the epidemic of witchcraft-based assaults. In 2019, the UN signaled condemnations of witchcraft-linked killings of ten children in Tanzania. And beginning in 2020, the COVID-19 brought increased assaults based on witchcraft accusations, “One unwelcome impact is how it has driven up the cases of ‘witch-hunts’ which are fueled by ignorance, superstitions, and the belief in malignant magical practices. ”

The (WHRIN) a coalition of survivors, non-governmental organizations, academics, and lawyers that promotes the awareness of human rights violations that are committed due to the belief in witchcraft, issued a statement celebrating the adoption of the resolution.

“Following 6 years of intensive advocacy by a coalition of survivors, NGOs, academics and lawyers, the UN Human Rights Council has passed a ground-breaking resolution, which ’emphatically condemns harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks that result in human rights violations, ’ said Ms. Ikponwosa Ero, UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism. ”

Lancaster University’s Dr. Charlotte Baker and Gary Foxcroft, Director of the Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN) said: “Reported data shows that in the last decade that there have been at least 20,000 victims of these harmful practices across 50 countries and 6 Continents who have faced extreme human rights violations including loss of life, limbs and property due to harmful practices. Today marks an important step towards delivering justice for them and preventing more abuses. ”

The WHRIN press release included a statement from Mariamu Staford of Tanzania. Staford has albinism and was attacked in 2008 by two men who cut off her arms to sell. Staford survived and identified her attackers who were arrested and never convicted. Her village disowned her for her bravery saying she had brought shame to them.

Staford said, “The UN resolution gives me personal hope, as a victim of these harmful practices, that one day justice will be served and they will end. Even better, the resolution ensures that people with albinism, who haven’t been victims are protected from such harmful practices. I pass my sincere gratitude to the UN for this landmark resolution that will ensure equity, equality and dignity for all people with albinism. ”

The UN resolution reaffirmed “the fundamental principles of equality, non-discrimination and human dignity that underlie the Charter and international human rights instruments” noting the “everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person and that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” and “the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for all to be guaranteed the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination of any kind. ”

The UN resolution is an important and welcome step in eliminating witchcraft assaults but its enforceability as a matter of security is limited. The resolution “Urges States to condemn harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks that result in human rights violations” and take appropriate measures to ensure the protection of its citizens from HPAWR.

The UN resolution requests that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights organize expert consultation on HPAWR from the UN Secretariat and all appropriate organizations and individuals with expertise in the matter.

The resolution also makes note that there are religious minorities whose practices are peaceful and legitimate.

As SAPRA pointed out in their statement, the relevance and importance to legitimate minority religions like Pagans is of the inclusion within the UN resolution is the statement, “States should carefully distinguish between harmful practices amounting to human rights violations related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, and the lawful and legitimate exercise of different kinds of religion or beliefs, in order to preserve the right to freely manifest a religion or a belief, individually or in a community with others, including for persons belonging to religious minorities. ”

https://wildhunt.org/20 ... 6e-238023049

Namibia: Local Lawyers Support UN Resolution On Witchcraft
03 Aug 2021

By Adam Hartman
THE United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) last month passed the first ever resolution on the elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks.

Local human rights advocates consider this an ideal opportunity for Namibia to review its 1933 Witchcraft Suppression Proclamation.

The resolution, which was adopted on 13 July, calls on member states (including Namibia) to condemn harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual killings that result in human rights violations.

Member states are also urged to take all measures necessary to ensure the elimination of these harmful practices and to ensure accountability and the effective protection of all people - particularly those who are vulnerable.

Namibia's inherited Witchcraft Suppression Proclamation states that "a person shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding five years, or to a fine, or to any two or more of such punishments if he imputes to another the use of non-natural means in causing any disease in any person or property, or in causing injury to any person or property or names, or indicates another as a wizard or witch".

The drafting of the resolution has come since 2015 and includes the work of various stakeholders.

One of these stakeholders is Alzheimer Dementia Namibia (ADN).

"Without amazing organisations like ADN, this would never have happened," Gary Foxcroft, the project facilitator of the United Kingdom-based Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network says.

ADN founder Berrie Holzhausen says the resolution would hopefully bring an end to the scourge of witchcraft-related crimes inflicted on vulnerable Namibians.

"Many people are accused of being witches and wizards, but are in fact people living with dementia.

With this resolution, Namibia's Witchcraft Suppression law must be redesigned, so that the human rights of people living with dementia, and other elderly people accused of being witches and wizards are respected - not only in the common law, but also in traditional law," he says.

Holzhausen says such practices have been going on in Namibia for ages under the guise of 'traditional healing' or 'cultural practices'.

"For this reason there is a lack of political will to deal with the issue. . ," Holzhauzen says.

He says he has approached political leaders, including the minister of justice, on the issue to no avail.

"They speak out against every attack on human rights, but ignore this issue," he says.

Minister of justice Yvonne Dausab could not be reached for comment.

Ombudsman John Walters says the harmfulness of such practices is denied and they are therefore not brought before the courts.

According to Walters, the Ministry of Justice should submit the UN resolution to the National Assembly (NA), which must hold the executive accountable for the implementation of such resolutions, "but this does not happen".

"I haven't heard members of parliament discuss human rights issues in the past 17 years. That is what must happen," he says.

He says the resolution should be referred to the Law Reform and Development Commission for possible amendment to the existing law, or to create new legislation.

NamRights director Phil ya Nangoloh says the resolution carries weight because Namibia has a witchcraft suppression act, which has never been repealed as a law.

"This resolution is inherent in our Constitution, but the problem is ignorance, which leads to the non-implementation thereof," he says.

"It needs to be adapted as a matter of urgency, as a great part of our society is being affected by these types of practices."

Namibia: Local Lawyers Support UN Resolution On Witchcraft
https://allafrica.com/stories/202108030915.html

And this article too:

UN moves to check violations associated with witchcraft, other practices in Nigeria
The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council has passed a resolution condemning accusations of witchcraft, rituals and other harmful traditions that result in human rights violations in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

This followed six years of advocacy by a coalition of survivors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academics, lawyers and journalists against rituals and other harmful cultural practices in the country.

According to investigations, such harmful practices have been rife in Cross River, Akwa Ibom and other parts of the country, leading to stigmatisation of several children as witches and wizards, which result in serious psychological and bodily harm.

In a statement issued yesterday in Calabar, Director of Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN), Gary Foxcroft, said UN Independent Expert on Enjoyment of Human Rights by Persons With Albinism, Ikponwosa Ero, confirmed the resolution.

It explained that survivors of the harmful practices expressed delight and optimism at the news that the development might bring about the end of some of the human rights abuses.

“Across the world, women, children, the aged, persons with disabilities, particularly persons with albinism, and other conditions such as epilepsy, autism and dementia suffer various human rights abuses due to Harmful Practices Related to Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks (HPAWR).

“These include, but are not limited to, killings, mutilation, exploitation and sale of persons, vital organs and body parts, burnings, grave robberies, torture and stigmatisation of victims and their family members, ” the statement reads.

The group explained that both issues share several root causes such as entrenched ignorance about causes of sickness and death, religious profiteering, lack of access to adequate healthcare and information, poverty, weak justice system and security.

Corroborating Foxcroft, Dr. Charlotte Baker said: “Reported data shows that in the last decade, there have been at least 20,000 victims of these harmful practices in 50 countries and six continents. The victims have faced extreme human rights violations, including loss of life, limbs and property. Today marks an important step towards delivering justice for them and preventing more abuses”.

Foxcroft added: “One such person is Mariamu Staford, who has albinism and hails from the Lake District in Tanzania. In 2008, while sleeping with her two-year-old son, Mariamu was attacked by two men who cut off her arms, hoping to profit from the gruesome trade in body parts of people with albinism.

“Her son was unhurt, but she survived the loss of her arms after spending weeks in hospital. Mariamu identified her attackers, who were arrested, but not convicted of their crime. In a bitter twist, her village turned against her for bringing shame to them by seeking justice. ”

She further noted that the UN resolution gave her personal hope, as a victim of the harmful practices, that one day, justice would be done and the injustice would end.
https://guardian.ng/new ... -in-nigeria/